"You do not know my friends," he said. "Remember that in my possession is not only the document which must cause them to abandon their great scheme of attack upon me, but also that that same document, if made proper use of, means ruin and ridicule for them. New York is a civilized city, it is true, but money can buy the assassin's pistol to-day as easily as it bought the bravo's knife a few hundred years ago. Have you ever thought of the number of unexplained, if not undetected crimes you read of continually, in which the victims are generally rich men? Perhaps not, and you need not worry your little head about it, but take my word for it, the keys are safer with you." Virginia laid her hand tremulously upon the locket. "They shall be safe," she said, "but tell me this. I am never to give them up to any one but you?" "Never under any conditions," he answered. "Not even," she asked, "if any one should bring a written message from you?" "Distrust it," he answered. "Do not give them up. Into my hands only, remember that." The telephone bell rang suddenly at his elbow. Phineas Duge took off the receiver and held it to his ear. The quiet, measured voice of Stephen Weiss came travelling along the wire. "Say, Duge, I am half inclined to think we made a mistake in signing that paper," he said. "Of course, I know it's safe in your keeping, but I don't fancy my name standing written on a document that means quite what that means. I fancy that Higgins is a little nervous, too. We'll meet and talk it over to-morrow night." Phineas Duge smiled faintly as he answered-- "Just as you like, only I must tell you that I entirely disagree. Unless we strike, and strike quickly, that bill will become law, and we shall all have to print a European address upon our notepaper, if we get as far." "I speak for the others, too," Weiss continued. "We'll meet right here to-morrow night to discuss it. Say at eight o'clock." Phineas Duge laid down the receiver and turned away. "Well," he said, "this will become interesting. They will not strike now until they have got hold of that foolish paper. If they are all determined to get it back, and I resist, they will know that the game is up, and that I have seen through their little scheme. This must be thought about. Virginia, do I look ill?" She shook her head. "I thought you were looking very well, uncle," she said. He locked up his desk, and looked down to see that the surface of the carpet was unruffled. "To-morrow," he said, "I am going to be very ill indeed!" CHAPTER VI MR. WEISS IN A HURRY