"Until the ring is returned." "McKenna," said Garraboy desperately, "I think I’ve satisfied you. I’m not standing on technicalities. You’ve got me cold. I know it. Now, I’ll tell you just how I stand. When everything is paid up, I stand pretty nearly $200,000 to the good. I’m going to get out—go abroad and stay there, and I want to catch the first boat out. If I had that ring, I’d throw it over, quick. That’s straight goods." "Garraboy, did you steal that ring?" said McKenna again. "I did not." He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the perspiration which stood on his forehead. "Did you ever see before the detective, John Ryan, whom Mrs. Kildair called in?" Garraboy hesitated. "Did you?" "Yes." "Employed him?" "Yes." "Many times?" "Several." "And you recommended him to Mrs. Kildair?" "Yes." "So you knew whom she would call in?" "No, I didn’t think of that." "Garraboy, didn’t you take the ring knowing that Ryan would be called in and that he would never make a search of you?" "I did not." "Do you know who took it?" "No." "That’s sufficient," said McKenna, apparently satisfied. "What are you going to do?" asked Garraboy nervously. "Keep you on a rope until the ring turns up. "I want to get away," said Garraboy weakly. "I know that." The broker remained quiet a moment, turning a pencil with his moist fingers. "Will you answer one question?" he said at last. "What?" "Does Mrs. Kildair know—are you acting for her?" "Mrs. Kildair does not know what I’m doing," said McKenna quietly. Garraboy rose with what seemed a little relief, a movement that McKenna was quick to note. "Well, I’ve made up my mind to tell you what I know," he said, after a few nervous steps. "Good." "I haven’t got the ring," he said carefully. "Did you take it?" "I did not take it," said Garraboy, looking steadily in McKenna’s eyes. "But you know?" "Yes, in a way I know," he said firmly. "A woman took it." "How do you know?" Garraboy did not answer immediately. He seemed reluctant to continue, frowning and moving restlessly from foot to foot. Finally he blurted out: "I don’t know who took it first, but this is what happened—the God’s truth. When Mrs. Kildair put out the lights and counted sixty-one, I heard the ring on the table." He hesitated a moment and said hurriedly: "I made up my mind to give them all a shock. I did not intend to keep the ring; I swear it. I put out my hand to take it—and I touched another hand—the hand of a woman." "Who took it?" "Yes." "Was that woman Mrs. Cheever, or Miss Lille?" said McKenna quickly. "I don’t know." "You don’t know." "No." "You have no idea?" "No." "No suspicion?" "No." "You were told nothing afterward?" "Nothing." "Garraboy, it’s just possible you’re not lying," said McKenna with a frown; "though I’m not sure by a long shot. However, I’ll know the truth before the sun goes down." "How?" said Garraboy, looking up.