Teddy's face had visibly paled while he listened. His first impression that Labar had been bluffing was right. But the inspector on his slender materials had managed to weaken the burglar's opinion. He was determined to break Teddy down, and since the Third Degree is frowned upon by British law, there was only this way open to him. It might be questioned by a pedant whether even so he was within the narrow confines of legality. That troubled him little. The strict interpretation of the law in the letter and the spirit would paralyse half the activities of Scotland Yard. There is possibly honour among thieves in a few exceptional cases. Here and there one may find a "straight crook" who will loyally stand by his associates, but as a general principle known to every police force in the world, there is scarcely a thief who will not give away another thief if pressed, either to curry favour or in the hope of some measure of protection for himself. This time, however, Labar realised that it might be more difficult. Among those who knew him Larry Hughes was recognised to have a long arm. He gave rewards lavishly, but he held stern discipline. There were tales in the underworld, even among those who would not have recognised Larry Hughes if they saw him, of certain, if sometimes long delayed, vengeance on those who had talked too much. Larry never forgot, and never failed to repay. It was an element in his own methods of ensuring safety. Teddy hesitated. He was in a police station and Labar was the more immediate danger. Against that, not even Labar could hold him immune from a long term of imprisonment if he admitted complicity in the robbery. The most he could do would be to refrain from pressing the case too heavily. Supposing he thus saved a year or two of his sentence, there were still Larry and Larry's friends to be reckoned with. He had heard of men being "framed" by Larry for crimes they had not committed, men against whom the police had found convincing evidence to their hands. There were others, cripples for life, who dare not tell in what strange encounter they received their injuries. There were still others who had dropped out of all human knowledge, with only the possibility of a grim guess at their fate. All of these had in some degree failed to keep faith with Larry Hughes. "I don't know any Larry." He met the gaze of the inspector with a fixed stare. "I ain't had no message from no one. You didn't find that paper in my place, and if you did it don't prove anything. You won't get me spilling anything, Mr. Labar, so you may as well save your breath. If you're going to keep me here I want to see a mouth-piece. I know my rights." "We're good friends, Teddy." "You don't blarney me any more than you can bluff me," said the other, dourly. "I know my rights." "That's all right then. Better be careful." Labar was as mild as ever, and perhaps a shade more genial. "Run along now and be a good boy. Don't get into any more mischief."