He handed her an official-looking document, which purported to be an announcement of the fact that notice had been given to a certain registrar requiring him to perform the ceremony of marriage, by special licence, between Horace Burton and Louise Casata. The lady, however, scarcely glanced at it. She kept her eyes fixed on the gentleman. 'Your uncle's ruby!' 'That's it. As you know, if I can get it in my possession, it means fortune; if I can't, it may mean misfortune of a bad type. As I'm not taking any chances, if you'll help me to lay my hand on it, I'll marry you in the morning.' 'What a liar you are!' 'My dear Lou, all men are liars; somebody else said it before you. But where's the lie in this particular case? You've the proof in your hand that I mean business. Cox shall come with us and see it done. Won't you, Cox?' Mr Thomas Cox bowed. 'Pleased to do anything to oblige a lady.' 'There you are! If you like, you needn't lose sight of me until we're married.' 'You say you want your uncle's ruby?' 'Of course, you know I do.' 'I know that you have it already.' 'I wish I knew as much. If I had it, I shouldn't be here to-night. There's another piece of candour.' 'I saw him take it.' 'Him? Who?' 'The man outside whom you call the Flyman. I saw him from a window take it last night from Mr Holland.' Mr Burton turned to Mr Cox. 'There you are! There's one witness. How many more might there have been? The Flyman's a fool to transact a delicate piece of business of that description in a public thoroughfare!' He returned to Miss Casata. 'My dear Lou, you saw him try to take it, unfortunately without success.' 'He took everything Mr Holland had.' 'You appear to be well-informed upon the subject, though I don't know from what quarter your information comes. Still, what you say is pretty accurate. He did take all he could. He even took a ruby. Here it is for you to look at. Unluckily, it's not my uncle's. Hence these tears.' He handed her the ruby signet ring which the Flyman, when he turned Mr Holland face downwards on the pavement, found that gentleman had been lying on. CHAPTER XIV WHO KNOCKS? Miss Casata examined the ring with every show of interest. 'This is the ruby he took from Mr Holland.' 'It is.' 'It is the only one which Mr Holland had.' 'So the Flyman said. He ought to know. I believe, on this occasion, he's no liar.' 'And it's not your uncle's?' 'It is not.' 'You are sure?' 'Dead.' 'Then, now I understand.' 'I wish I did share your understanding.' 'I understand why she laughed when he had gone, and why she said, "Poor Guy, how disappointed he will be!"' 'What is it you're talking about? Would you condescend to explain?' 'Yet--I do not understand. It was the box. Wait; in a second I will be back.'