'Cousin--your cousin? I shall never be a cousin of yours.' 'No? That's hard on Guy. He's counting on the money.' 'You despicable creature!' She turned away, presenting him with a good view of her back, and put a question to Miss Bewicke. 'What is he doing here? Surely you don't allow him in your rooms?' Mr Burton took upon himself to answer for the lady. 'I'll tell you what I'm doing here; she can't. I'm now for the first time going to tell her also. It'll be giving her a little piece of information which I know she'll value. Miss Bewicke, I've come here in search of a quarter of million of money.' 'Is that so? You really are too modest! It was surely scarcely worth your while to come for such a trifle! I need hardly say that you will find several little sums of that amount lying loose about the premises!' 'Indeed? Well, I want one; that's all.' 'Mr Burton, will you be so good as to leave my rooms?' 'I'll leave them on the wings of the wind, whatever that may be, when I have my uncle's ruby.' 'When you have what?' 'My uncle's ruby. My dear cousin Guy committed burglary here last night in quest of it, so I'm sure you won't mind my paying you a little call this evening as a sort of sequel.' 'I suppose Louise Casata told you about Mr Holland?' 'There's no charge for supposing.' 'Probably the same person also informed you that he went away with what he sought?' 'Did he, Miss Bewicke?' 'You had better refer to your informant.' 'I'm referring to you. I'm asking you if Guy Holland left these rooms last night in possession of my uncle's ruby?' 'Ask Miss Casata; ask your cousin even, but don't ask me.' 'I am asking you. You've been playing some confounded trick.' 'Mr Burton!' 'I don't wish to hurt your feelings, Miss Bewicke, so I'll say you've been amusing yourself with some dainty, delicate device, and I shouldn't be surprised to learn that you have that ruby on your person at this moment.' Miss Bewicke, walking to the bell, pressed her finger against the button, so that it kept up a continuous ringing. Mr Burton watched her with a smile. 'You see, there's no one there. You might have taken my word.' 'Where is Miss Casata?' 'Where is she? That's the question. Where's everyone?' 'If I am unable to attract the attention of my own servants, thanks to you, my friends in the next flat will hear the unceasing tinkling of the bell, and guess that there is something wrong.' 'I should be sorry, Miss Bewicke, to have to seem rude to a lady--' 'On the contrary, I should imagine that few things would give you greater pleasure; you are that kind of person.' 'At the same time, I must request you to leave that bell alone.'