Murphy was awakened from a pleasant dream by a hand being placed upon his breast. He awoke with a start and sat bolt upright in the bed, at the side of which stood a human figure. Monte reached under the pillow for his revolver. It was not there. The intruder had removed the weapon. He had also turned up the lamp which Murphy had turned down low upon retiring. “You!” “Yes.” The last speaker was Mike Quick. “How came you here?” “I entered by the door.” The dive-keeper’s tones were low, but were very severe. “What do you want?” “I merely called to pay you a visit.” Murphy felt his whole body covered with cold perspiration. It was plain Quick’s visit augured him no good. Monte made no move toward leaving his bed. “This is a queer hour and a queerer manner of paying me a visit. Have you gone back to the old business?” “What do you mean?” “I’m afraid your object in coming here is robbery.” Quick smiled. “I could take advanced lessons in that art from you.” “What do you want?” “I believe you asked that question before,” remarked Quick dryly. “Yes, but you failed to answer it.” “I come as the representative of Enoch Cook,” said Mike. Murphy’s eyes almost popped out of his head with amazement. “The representative of Enoch Cook?” He mumbled over the words several times. “What about Cook?” “Can’t you guess the object of my visit, now that I have mentioned his name?” “No. I have not seen Enoch in more than two years.” Quick laughed. “Don’t talk silly.” “I’m telling the truth.” “Enoch Cook has been in this house within four hours.” “Then I did not see him.” “You not only saw him, but, with the help of Joe Snell and Pat Brady, you managed to rob the poor devil.” Monte shuddered. The dive-keeper knew all. Still the old “fence” determined to stand by his colors. “Some one,” he said, with a hollow laugh, “has been imposing a cock-and-bull story upon you, Mike.” “No; but you are trying mighty hard to make a strike in that direction.” “Is it money you are after?” As can be seen, Murphy had a very wholesome dread of his visitor. “Suppose I did want to make a loan?” sneered Quick. “You are an old friend, and I might stretch a point and lend you a few hundred.” Mike smiled grimly. He knew the “fence” actually adored money with the passion of a shylock. “I want the green diamond.” “The green diamond--why, man, what are you talking about?” Monte’s face blanched. “You know full well what I am talking about.” “If you don’t leave this house I shall call in the police.” “No, you won’t.” Murphy sprang out of bed. Quick grasped the “fence” by the throat and forced the upper portion of his body back upon the bed. “Do you mean to murder me?” “Yes, if you do not give up the diamond you stole from Cook.” Monte struggled hard to break away from his assailant. His strength was almost as nothing compared to that of Quick. The latter drew a knife from inside his coat. “Murder! Help!”