He was a little, paunchy man, with 'Jew' written so large all over him that one asked oneself why he had been so ungrateful to his forefathers as to associate himself with such a name as Cox--Thomas Cox. He got out of his chair, which was much too large for him, so that he could see the Flyman, who still kept himself modestly in the background. He punctuated his words by making little dabs in the air with his cigar. 'What we want is the ruby; that's all we want. We don't want the schedule of your adventures. We're not interested. You understand?' 'Yes, I understand you, Mr Cox, but it don't go.' 'What do you mean, "it don't go"?' 'I'm not all alone in this. There's three of us in this game.' 'Listen to me. You say you've got the ruby. Very well, hand it over. I will see you have what Mr Burton promised you. We'll say no more about it, and there'll be an end of the matter.' The Flyman's manner became a trifle dogged. 'I don't hand over nothing till you've heard what I've got to say.' Something in the speaker's manner struck the observant Mr Cox. He showed signs of perturbation. 'Flyman, you haven't killed him?' 'I don't know whether I have or haven't. I hit, perhaps, a bit harder than I meant. He was as good as dead when I saw him last; anyhow, he'll be silly for the rest of his days, or else I'm wrong. I know what a good downer with a sand bag means. I'm a bit afraid I gave him an extra good one. I didn't like the looks of him at all.' 'You're a fool! Why did you do it?' 'Because you told me?' 'I told you! What the devil do you mean?' 'You set me on the job--you and Mr Burton together. You said to me there's a bloke coming out of a certain house at a certain time. He's got something on him which you're to get. You knew very well I wasn't going to get it out of him by asking.' 'Did anyone see you?' 'Not while I was at it, so far as I know. But a copper did directly afterwards. For all I can tell, he's seen me before, and'll know me again.' Mr Cox's perturbation visibly increased. 'Did he--did he try to arrest you?' 'He didn't know what had happened then; but he was going straight to where I'd left the bloke lying. Then, of course, he'd put two and two together, and think of me.' 'Flyman, you're a fool! Did anybody see you come in here?' 'That's more than I can say. But somebody'll soon know I did come in here if anything happens to me. I'm not going to be on this lay all on my own.' Mr Cox threw his unfinished cigar into the fireplace. It had gone out. His attention was occupied by matters which rendered smoking difficult. He stood knawing the finger-nails of his left hand. The Flyman watched him. Mr Burton seemed to be endeavouring to obtain sufficient control of his faculties to understand what the conversation was about. Presently Mr Cox delivered himself of the result of his cogitation. 'I tell you what, I shouldn't be surprised if a little trip abroad would do you good.' 'I'm willing.'