"They are desperate men," he continued, "indifferent to death, and would, without compunction, shoot down everyone present--if I merely raised my hand! Each of them is a social pariah, with a price upon his head. Let no man think this is a jest! Any movement made without my permission will be instantly fatal." _Dzing!_ went the bell of a bus below. _Grr-r-r!_ went the motor in re-starting. _OO-oo! OO-oo!_ came from the horn of a taxi-cab. And around the wall stood the silent rank with the raised revolvers. "I shall call upon those gentlemen whom I consider most philanthropic," resumed the musical voice, "to subscribe to my Cause! Mr. Rohscheimer, your host, will head the list with a diamond stud, valued at one thousand guineas, and two rings, representing, together, three thousand pounds! Place them on that pedestal, Mr. Rohscheimer!" "I won't do it!" cried the financier, in rising cadence. "I defy you! I----" "Cut it!" snapped Haredale roughly. "Don't be such a cad as to expose women----" He had caught sight of a pretty, pale face in the throng, that made the idea of these mysterious robbers opening fire doubly, trebly horrible. "It goes against the grain, but hand them over. We can do nothing--yet!" "Thank you, Sir Richard!" said the masked spokesman, and waved aside the hand with which Haredale proffered his own signet ring. "I have not called upon you, sir! Mr. Hohsmann, your daughters would feel affronted did you not give them an opportunity of appearing upon the subscription list! The necklace and the aigrette will do! I shall post, of course, a formal receipt to Hamilton Place!" And so the incredible comedy proceeded--until thousands of pounds' worth of jewellery lay upon the pedestal at the foot of a bronze statuette of Pandora! "The list is closed!" called the spokesman. "Doors!" Open came the doors at his command, and revealed to those who could see outside, a double rank of evening-dress bandits. "The company," he resumed, "will pass out in single file to the white drawing-room. Mr. Rohscheimer--will you lead the way?" In sullen submission out went Rohscheimer, and after him his guests--or, rather, his wife's guests--until that whole brilliant company was packed into the small white room. Someone had thoughtfully closed the shutters of the windows giving on Park Lane, and securely screwed them; so that, when the last straggler had entered, and the door was shut, they were in a trap! "Listen, everybody!" came Haredale's voice. "Keep cool! You fellows by the door--get your shoulders to it!" At his words, the men standing nearest to the door turned to execute these instructions, and were confronted by the following type-written notice pinned upon the white panels:-- "A detailed subscription list will appear in the leading papers to-morrow, and it will doubtless relieve and gratify subscribers to learn that _the revolvers were not loaded_!"