“As you please,” said Rowton, slightly bowing his head. “The money part of the business does not affect me in the least.” “You have been feeding too well, my fighting cock,” said Piper with a sneer. “You would sing another tune were I to take you at your word.” Rowton said nothing. He leant back in his chair folding his arms. The other men still lingered round the table where the specimen diamonds were lying. Piper went up to the table, took the little parcel, folded it up and placed it in his desk at the top of the room. He locked the desk and put the key in his pocket. “The rest of the diamonds have got to be fetched to-night,” he said, looking at the men. “You, Scrivener, and you, Simpkins, had better accompany Rowton when he leaves us—wait for him outside the hotel, take the bag from him and bring it straight here. You can manage to do this when the policeman is off his beat.” “Rather,” said Scrivener, with a smile. “All the same it is a ticklish business,” he added. “But worth one hundred thousand pounds. We must realise that money and soon. I have got my plans all marked out. You, Scrivener, are the man for the job.” “I?” said Scrivener, looking up with a startled and scared face. “Yes, you are not going to funk it—we will make a man of you—you want to marry, too, don’t you?” “Oh, time enough,” said Scrivener with a smirk. “Not at all. It is good for a man to have a wife, and your wedding bells shall ring before long. You are a good fellow, one of the best of us. What do you say to our starting you as a jeweller? A merchant who buys rough diamonds in the ordinary market. I heard only to-day that a small jeweller’s shop in Cheapside was going a-begging—you shall take it, change your name and your coat, and do good business. We will fit you up with capital, and you shall buy sufficient diamonds at the ordinary price to lull suspicion. By degrees those which Rowton has brought back from Spain can be sold at full market value.” “That’s a prime notion,” said Simpkins, coming forward. “Yes, we’ll talk of it later on—I have the whole thing neatly planned. Scrivener shall take the shop to-morrow. Now, then, to turn to another matter. Come here, Silver, let us hear the whole of your story. You did part of our work, but not all. What about the bonds? How did that affair prosper?” “I have returned without executing that part of my order,” said Rowton in a brief tone. “You have!” Long John sprang to his feet, so did Scrivener, so did Simpkins, so did every other man in the room. Rowton alone remained seated. He raised his head and stared from one to the other. “Your reasons,” said Piper then; “your reasons, my noble leader.” “I am not your leader, and you know it,” replied Rowton. “You lead us all.” “That’s neither here nor there,” interrupted Long John, with a sneer on his lips. “You are our ostensible leader. Why did you not bring back the bonds as well as the diamonds?”