Cranbourne shook his head angrily. "What right have we to control other men's destinies?" he said. "Where is the justice that puts such men as ourselves in command?" "Opportunity does that, not justice," said Mr. Torrington slowly. "My first employment was cleaning windows. I saw a man, who was so engaged, fall from a fourth floor sill into the street. I picked him up dead, carried him into the building and I asked for his job. A nasty story isn't it?" Cranbourne snorted. "It covers us all," he said. "We spend our lives robbing flowers from cemeteries, keeping our souls in our trousers pockets along with the other small change. Hullo!" Doran opened the door and announced Nugent Cassis. That meant that all over the town clocks would be striking eleven. "Any news?" he rapped out. "None." "But there wouldn't be," said Cranbourne. "He promised to send a message when he was nearing home. It's time he was here." The little man was plainly agitated. Hilbert Torrington smiled at him over the carefully arranged playing cards. "They tell me, Cassis, your wife has been indisposed. I trust she is better." "I really don't know," came the irritable response. "You can hardly expect----" "These trifles so easily escape us," murmured the old man. Nugent Cassis scowled and turned to Cranbourne. "How's that other fellow getting on? What's his name--Altar?" "He's holding out." "At Laurence's house?" "I believe so." "You've heard from the woman lately!" "Not lately." "I've a doubt about that woman. She's been seen a good bit with the American. I've had them watched. Nothing would surprise me less than to hear she'd given us away." "That's hardly likely, Cassis, since she believes it is Barraclough they've got hold of." "Women are very tricky. I don't trust 'em! Suppose they've made it uncomfortable for Frencham Altar, what? Well it was only to be expected." The callous practicality of tone fired Cranbourne to answer: "Expected, yes. But one of these days if there's any justice knocking about this old world of ours we shall have to pay." "Five thousand was the price," retorted Cassis. It is probable there might have been a row had not Mr. Torrington intervened with the suggestion that Frencham Altar's cheque should be signed while they were waiting. Cassis obstructed the idea. He thought tomorrow would be quite soon enough. He scouted Mr. Torrington's statement that on the morrow they would have to see about Frencham Altar's release. He said that this was a matter dependant on Barraclough's return. "Our contract with Altar terminated at eleven tonight," insisted Mr. Torrington. "Kindly sign this cheque beneath my signature." And very grumblingly Cassis obliged. "We have staked a lot of money on this affair," he said. "Yes, and not a little reputation," replied the old man. "Don't follow your reasoning." "I'm getting old, Cassis, reaching the age when the hereafter becomes the nearafter."