"I don't drink at any one's expense--except in the way of friendship--without paying for it. I am going to pay for the drinks, and to prove to you that you have acted wisely in trusting us. You have called your son a fool, Mrs. Fordham, and it would be rude to contradict a lady. Perhaps he is something worse than that, but at all events he has not been a fool tonight. Had he followed your advice the pair of you would have seen the inside of prison walls. As it is, he has saved you and himself. Do you think we left Jack out of the reckoning? Not a bit of it. At this present moment he is within twenty yards of us, waiting for orders, and it is a good job that his account of the stabbing tallies with that we have just heard. I shouldn't like to have such a record as yours, Mr. Louis, to my score, but there will be no charge of murder brought against you. That is all you care for, I expect, never mind what happens to any one else." His eyes literally flashed with joy when he heard this, and Mrs. Fordham drew a long, deep breath of relief. She would have made almost any sacrifice to save both men, but Louis came first. That is the way with mothers, even when they are the worst of women. "Is the liquor paid for?" I asked. "Yes, yes," Louis replied. "Take some more." I put the bottle aside, and held up my hand, for just then we heard three single raps at the street door, a short interval between each. Then, after a longer interval, three rapid knocks. "Is that Maxwell's signal?" I whispered. "Speak low." "Yes." "Do you have to say anything? Must he hear your voice?" "Yes. And I must hear his." "Go and say it, and open the door, and leave the rest to us. We shall be behind you." I did not trust her even then, you see. We stepped softly out of the room, Mrs. Fordham first, and we at her heels. The passage was dark; I would not allow her to carry a light. "Who is there?" she asked. The answer came. "All right, M." She was in such a state of agitation that she fumbled at the lock. I put my hand warningly on her shoulder, and the door was opened. "What did you keep me so long for?" cried Maxwell, as he entered. "Is that you, Louis? Everything's ready. What the----" Before he could get out another word he was seized and handcuffed. I blew my whistle, and Jack came up. Directing him in an undertone to remain in the passage till I called for him, I followed Wheeler and Bob Garlick into the room where they had conveyed their prisoner, Mrs. Fordham having run in first. She was panting as though she had lost her breath. Maxwell had said nothing more in the dark passage, his impression being, of course, that the police were upon him, and that silence would best serve him. When I entered he was safe in the grasp of my assistants, and was glaring at Mrs. Fordham and Louis, neither of whom had the courage to meet his eye. "Have you searched him?" I asked of my assistants. They shook their heads. "Well, let us see what he has in his pockets."