“The girl will be taken away. I'm honestly afraid of the man. He's too quiet spoken. That kind of a man always goes the limit.” “I see. Wait here.” At Cutty's approach Hawksley looked up apathetically. “Want me?” “Perhaps.” “You are pale. Anything serious?” “Yes. Karlov has got Kitty.” For a minute Hawksley did not stir. Then he got up, put away the Amati, and came back. He was pale, too. “I understand,” he said. “They will exchange her for me. Am I right?” “Yes. But you are not obliged to do anything like that, you know.” “I am ready.” “You give yourself up?” “Why not?” “You're a man!” Cutty burst out. “I was brought up by one. Honestly, now, could I ever look a white man in the face again if I didn't give myself up? I did begin to believe that I might get through. But Fate was only playing with me. May I use your desk to write a line?” “Come with me,” said Cutty, unsteadily. This was not the result of environment. Quiet courage of this order was race. No questions demanding if there wasn't some way round the inevitable. Cutty's heart glowed; the boy had walked into it, never to leave it. “I'm ready.” It took a man to say that when the sequence was death. “Coles,” said Cutty upon reentering the study, “tell Karlov that His Highness will give himself up. He will be there before midnight.” “That's enough for me. But if there's the least sign that you're not playing straight it will be all off. Two men will be watching the taxi and the entrance. If you appear, it's good-night. They told me to warn you.” “I promise not to appear.” Coles smiled enigmatically and reached for his hat. He held his hand out to Hawksley. “You're a white man, sir.” “Thanks,” said Hawksley, absently. To have it all over with! As soon as the captive Federal agent withdrew Hawksley sat down at the desk and wrote. “Will this hold legally?” he asked, extending the written sheet to Cutty. Cutty saw that it was a simple will. In it Hawksley gave half of his possessions to Kitty and half to Stefani Gregor. In case the latter was dead the sum total was to go to Kitty. “I got you into a muddle; this will take you out of it. Karlov will kill me. I don't know how. I am his obsession. He will sleep better with me off his mind. Will this hold legally?” “Yes. But why Kitty Conover, a stranger?” “Is a woman who saves your life a stranger?” “Well, not exactly. This is what we might call zero hour. I gave you a haven here not particularly because I was sorry for you, but because I wanted those emeralds. Once upon a time Gregor showed them to me. Until I examined your wallet I supposed you had smuggled in the stones; and that would have been fair game. But you had paid your way in honestly. Now, what did you do to Kitty Conover last night that decided her to accept that fool proposition? She sent her acceptance after she left you.