"Now," said Clinton, "what I propose is this: that we just walk into your boss's store this night, and walk out of it with goods enough to make us rich men. We can do it easy as guns." Arthur turned pale and remained silent. "What's the matter, boy," said Clinton, laughing, "you ain't going to play chickenheart, are you?" "No," said Arthur, ashamed to confess his dislike to the plan, "but why can't you take some other store?" "Because we havn't the men drugged in any other store, and, in case of detection, we're safer there than any where else." "How so? I should think the chances in that case would be equal anywhere?" "Oh, no. I'm somewhat related to the proprietor of your store, and when he found 'twas me, he'd hush the matter up--and let it go," said Clinton, quietly. "Related to Mr. Delancey! Pray, how nearly?" asked Arthur in astonishment. "Oh, quite near. But no matter about that now, maybe you'll find it all out one of these days. Another reason for choosing that particular store is, we can get in with less trouble. Look there." Clinton, as he spoke, flung down upon the table a heavy brass key, which, to his amazement, Arthur saw was the one he had lost on his Carrollton ride. "How in the world came you by this?" Clinton laughed--"If you lost it, I must have found it; but no time is to be lost, and if we're all agreed let's go to work." "All agreed," said Quirk; but Arthur was silent; sitting with his head bent down, as if closely examining the key, but in fact to hide the emotion he knew was visible in his face. "Well, then," said Clinton, rising and unlocking an armoire which stood in one corner of the room, "here are some bags for us, which I have had prepared expressly. Each of us will take two; and with what else we can carry about our persons, they will be enough. Here, Pratt, are yours. What the devil ails you, man, to look so down?" "Nothing ails me," replied Arthur, rising and taking the bags, with an effort to look interested and cheerful. "Well," continued Clinton, "now, my plan is this: all you have got to do is to unlock the door and go in; for Quirk tells me that early this morning he managed to fill the bolt socket in the floor, so that the bolts wouldn't sink; and that he is certain Jeff was too fuddled with the wine he gave him to note the difference. If this was so, you can go in without the slightest difficulty, and as you two know all about the store, which I don't, while you are gathering the goods, I will saw off one of the window shutters, and cut out a pane of glass, so that it will seem the entrance was effected by that means. Here are the implements, you see," said he, holding up a saw and file. "Aye," said Quirk, "but you'll need a diamond to cut the glass." "I'll use this," said he, showing the ring on his finger. "Just as it is?"