"But what--what----" stammered the other. "Only that she's given herself away," chuckled Anisty: "beautifully and completely. 'The brass bowl,' says she,--thinking I never saw one on Maitland's desk!--and 'O'Hagan, and who the divvle are you?' says the man on the other end of the wire, when I ask who he is." "And? And?" pleaded the little man, dancing with worry. "And it means that my lady here returned the jewels to Maitland by hiding them under a brass ash-receiver on his desk--ass that I was not to know!... You are 'cute, my lady!" with an ironic salute to the girl, "but you've met your match in Anisty." "And," demanded the other as the burglar snatched up his hat and coat, "what will you do, Anisty?" "Do?"--contemptuously. "Why, what is there to do but go and get them? We've risked too much and made New York too hot for the two of us, my dear sir, to get out of the game without the profits." "But I beg of you----" "You needn't,"--grimly. "It won't bring you in any money." "But Maitland--" "Is out. O'Hagan answered the 'phone. Don't you understand?" "But he may return!" "That's his lookout. I'm sorry for him if he does." Anisty produced the revolver from his pocket, and twirled the cylinder significantly. "I owe Mr. Maitland something," he said, nodding to the white-faced girl by the table, "and I shouldn't be sorry to----" "And what," broke in the new-comer, "what am I going to do meanwhile?" "Devil the bit _I_ care! Stay here and keep this impetuous female from calling up Police Headquarters, for a good guess.... Speaking of which, I think we had best settle this telephone business once and for all." The burglar turned again to the desk and began to work over the instrument with a small screwdriver which he produced from his coat pocket, talking the while. "Our best plan, my dear Bannerman, is for you to come with me, at least as far as the nearest corner. You can wait there, if you're too cowardly to go the limit, like a man.... I'll get the loot and join you, and we can make a swift hike for the first train that goes farthest out of town.... A pity, for we've done pretty well, you and I, old boy: you with your social entrée and bump of locality to locate the spoils, me with my courage and skill to lift 'em, and an equitable division.... Oh, don't worry about _her_, Bannerman! She's as deep in it as either of us, only she happens to be sentimental, and an outsider on this deal. She won't blab. Besides, you're ruined anyway, as far as New York's concerned.... Come along. That's finished: she won't send any important messages over that wire to-night, I guess." "My dear young lady!" Rising and throwing the overcoat over his arm, he waved his hat at her in sardonic courtesy. "I can't say it has been a pleasure to know you but--you have made it interesting, I admit. And I bid you a very good night. The charwoman will let you out when she comes to clean up in the morning. Adieu, my dear!"