Besides, it was clearly his duty not to remain in the flat alone with the jewels another night. There was but one attainable place of safety for them; and that the safe of a reputable hotel. He would return to the Bartholdi at once, merely pausing on his way to inquire of the cabmen if they could send their brother-nighthawk to him. Maitland shook himself into his topcoat, jammed hat upon head, dropped the jewels into one pocket, the cigarette case into another, and--on impulse--Anisty's revolver, with its two unexploded cartridges, into a third; and pressed the call button for O'Hagan, not waiting, however, for that worthy to climb the stairs, but meeting him in the entry hall. "I'm going back to the Bartholdi, O'Hagan, for the night. You may bring me my letters and any messages in the morning. I should like you to sleep in the flat to-night and answer any telephone calls." "Yiss, Misther Maitland, sor." "Have the police gone, O'Hagan?" "There's a whole bottle full yet, sor." "You've not been drinking, I trust?" The Irishman shuffled. "Shure, sor, an' wud that be hosphitible?" Laughing, Maitland bade him good night and left the house, turning west to gain Fifth Avenue, walking slowly because he was a little tired, and enjoying the rather unusual experience of being abroad at that hour without company. The sky seemed cleaner than ordinarily, the city quieter than ever he had known it, and in the air was a sweet smell, reminiscent of the country-side ... reminding one unhappily of the previous night when one had gone whistling to one's destiny along a perfumed country road.... "Good 'eavings, Mister Maitland, sir! It carn't be you!" Maitland looked up, bewildered for the instant. The voice that hailed him out of the sky was not unfamiliar.... A cab that he had waited on the corner to let pass, was reined back suddenly. The driver leaned down from the box and in a thunderstruck tone advertised his stupefaction. "It aren't in nature, sir--if yer'll pardon my mentionin' it. But 'ere I leaves you not ten minutes ago at the St. Luke Building and finds yer 'ere, when you 'aven't 'ad time--" Maitland woke up. "What's that?" he questioned sharply. "You left me where ten minutes--?" "St. Luke Buildin', corner Broadway an'--." "I know it," excited, "but--" "--'avin' took yer there with the young lady--" "Young lady!" "--that comes outer the 'ouse with yer, sir--" "The devil!" Maitland hesitated no longer: his foot was on the step as he spoke. "Drive me there at once, and drive for all you're worth!" he cried. "If there's an ounce of speed in that plug of yours and you don't get it out--" "Never fear, sir! We'll make it in five minutes!" "It'll be worth your while." "Right-O!" Maitland dropped into his seat, dumbfounded. "Good Lord!" he whispered; and then savagely: "In the power of that infamous scoundrel------!" And felt of the revolver in his pocket.