"Excited. You should tell them birds not to get excited. On my back like a pair of ravening wolves they was. And I'm telling you, Mr. Labar, there ain't anything against me. Not a thing. I've got a clean sheet, I have, since I did that last lot." "Glad to hear that, Teddy. Got enough money to retire on, have you? Or have you got a job? Let's see. It's nine months since you came out of stir. What have you been doing, besides drink?" Well aware that Labar knew a great deal about him, Teddy shrugged his shoulders. "I've had a glass now and again," he said defiantly. "Why shouldn't I? You know how hard it is for a bloke like me, guv'nor. Tried hard I have. What chance is there for a bloke like me?" "Where was your last job? Have you got any references?" "Fat hope. The wife had a bit of money by her and that's kept us going." "Uh-huh. Getting pretty well up against it last week, weren't you? Or did your wife have a new dividend in on Monday?" The detective had not raised his voice, but Teddy winced as though the question had been shouted at him. "'Struth, guv'nor, you don't think I was in that Gertstein job, do you? I can prove where I was all that night. I can bring witnesses." "Sure you can?" Labar's voice was soothing, velvety. "What kind of witnesses?" He did not doubt that the other had taken some kind of steps to establish an alibi. "I wonder if a jury would believe 'em against the story I might have to tell. Mind you, Teddy, I like you. I'd hate to have to push all I know." The hint, half threat, half promise, was delicately conveyed. "Much better for you to give me the full strength of the yarn." Teddy blinked. "You're bluffing," he asserted, doggedly. "I had nothing to do with it. You can't lay anything over me." "Bluffing, am I? Don't you believe it, son. I know all about Larry and the others. You think that Larry will help you out of this mess. He won't. He's on his way out of London, and he's leaving you and the others to hold the baby. Here." His voice changed and he fixed his eyes sternly upon the burglar. "How do you account for this?" He fished a piece of paper from his waistcoat pocket. "This was found in your house, and it's a message from Larry to you. 'All ready. Cut out the booze or I'll put you in the mud. Meet to-night at----'" The inspector mumbled something incoherently and thrust the paper in his pocket. "You thought that you'd burnt that, Teddy, but you hadn't. You've botched it, Teddy. Now are you going to help me or are you going to be a fool? Make up your mind."