"You do me pro--honor," he amended hastily. Then, daringly: "I don't ask much in exchange, only----" "A cigarette?" she suggested hastily. He laughed, pleased and diverted. "That'll be enough now--if you'll light it for me." She glanced dubiously round the now almost deserted room; and a waiter started forward as if animated by a spring. Anisty motioned him imperiously back. "Go on," he coaxed; "no one can see." And watched, flattered, the slim white fingers that extracted a match from the stand and drew it swiftly down the prepared surface of the box, holding the flickering flame to the end of a white tube whose tip lay between lips curved, scarlet, and pouting. There! A pale wraith of smoke floated away on the fan-churned air, and Anisty was vaguely conscious of receiving the glowing cigarette from a hand whose sheer perfection was but enhanced by the ripe curves of a rounded forearm.... He inhaled deeply, with satisfaction. Undetected by him, the girl swiftly passed a furtive handkerchief across her lips. When he looked again she was smiling and the golden case had disappeared. She shook her head at him in mock reproval. "Bold man!" she called him; but the crudity of it was lost upon him, as she had believed it would be. The moment had come for vigorous measures, she felt, guile having paved the way. "Why do you call me that?" "To appear so openly, running the gauntlet of the detectives...." "Eh?"--startled. "Of course you saw," she insisted. "Saw? No. Saw what?" "Why.... Perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought you knew and trusted to your likeness to Mr. Maitland...." Anisty frowned, collecting himself, bewildered. "What are you driving at, anyhow?" he demanded roughly. "Didn't you see the detectives? I should have thought your man would have warned you. I noticed four loitering round the entrance, as I came in, and feared...." "Why didn't you tell me, then?" "I have just told you the reason. I supposed you were in your disguise...." "That's so." The alarmed expression gradually faded, though he remained troubled. "I sure am Maitland to the life," he continued with satisfaction. "Even the head-waiter----" "And of course," she insinuated delicately, "you have disposed of the loot?" He shook his head gloomily. "No time, as yet." Her dismay was evident. "You don't mean to say----?" "In my pocket." "Oh!" She glanced stealthily around. "In your pocket!" she whispered. "And--and if they stopped you----" "I am Maitland." "But if they insisted on searching you...." She was round-eyed with apprehension. "That's so!" Her perturbation was infectious. His jaw dropped. "They would find the jewels--known to be stolen----" "By God!" he cried savagely. "Dan!" "I--I beg your pardon. But ... what am I to do? You are sure----?" "McClusky himself is on the nearest corner!" "_Phew_!" he whistled; and stared at her, searchingly, through a lengthening pause. "Dan...." said she at length. "Yes?" "There is a way...." "Go on."