“Oh, no doubt, when you come out of prison,” said Guerchard ironically; and he laughed a grim, jeering laugh. “I’ve got to go to prison first,” said Lupin quietly. “Pardon me—if you accept, I mean to arrest you,” said Guerchard. “Manifestly you’ll arrest me if you can,” said Lupin. “Do you accept?” said Guerchard. And again his voice quivered with anxiety. “Well,” said Lupin. And he paused as if finally weighing the matter. “Well?” said Guerchard, and his voice shook. “Well—no!” said Lupin; and he laughed a mocking laugh. “You won’t?” said Guerchard between his teeth. “No; you wish to catch me. This is just a ruse,” said Lupin, in quiet, measured tones. “At bottom you don’t care a hang about Sonia, Mademoiselle Kritchnoff. You will not arrest her. And then, if you did you have no proofs. There ARE no proofs. As for the pendant, you’d have to prove it. You can’t prove it. You can’t prove that it was in her possession one moment. Where is the pendant?” He paused, and then went on in the same quiet tone: “No, Guerchard; after having kept out of your clutches for the last ten years, I’m not going to be caught to save this child, who is not even in danger. She has a very useful friend in the Duke of Charmerace. I refuse.” Guerchard stared at him, scowling, biting his lips, seeking a fresh point of attack. For the moment he knew himself baffled, but he still clung tenaciously to the struggle in which victory would be so precious. The front-door bell rang again. “There’s a lot of ringing at your bell this morning,” said Guerchard, under his breath; and hope sprang afresh in him. Again they stood silent, waiting. Dieusy opened the door, put in his head, and said, “It’s Mademoiselle Kritchnoff.” “Collar her! ... Here’s the warrant! ... collar her!” shouted Guerchard, with savage, triumphant joy. “Never! You shan’t touch her! By Heaven, you shan’t touch her!” cried Lupin frantically; and he sprang like a tiger at Guerchard. Guerchard jumped to the other side of the table. “Will you accept, then?” he cried. Lupin gripped the edge of the table with both hands, and stood panting, grinding his teeth, pale with fury. He stood silent and motionless for perhaps half a minute, gazing at Guerchard with burning, murderous eyes. Then he nodded his head. “Let Mademoiselle Kritchnoff wait,” said Guerchard, with a sigh of deep relief. Dieusy went out of the room. “Now let us settle exactly how we stand,” said Lupin, in a clear, incisive voice. “The bargain is this: If I give you the pictures, the tapestry, the cabinets, the coronet, and the death-certificate of the Duke of Charmerace, you give me your word of honour that Mademoiselle Kritchnoff shall not be touched.” “That’s it!” said Guerchard eagerly. “Once I deliver these things to you, Mademoiselle Kritchnoff passes out of the game.” “Yes,” said Guerchard. “Whatever happens afterwards. If I get back anything—if I escape—she goes scot-free,” said Lupin.