"I wasn't thinking of calling out, indeed I wasn't. I'm quite satisfied with being where I am," said Leander, "if you'd only leave me a little more room to choke in, and tell me what I've done to put you both in such tremenjous tempers." "Done? You cur, when yer know well enough you've taken the bread out of our mouths--the bread we'd earned! D'ye suppose we left out that statue in the gardens for the like of you? Who put you up to it? How many were there in it? What do you mean to do now you've got it? Speak out, or I swear I'll cut your heart out, and throw it over the railings for the tom-cats; I will, you ----!" The man called Braddle, as he uttered this threat, looked so very anxious to execute it, that Leander gave himself up for lost. "As true as I stand here, gentlemen, I didn't steal that statue." "I doubt you're not the build for taking the lead in that sort of thing," said the Count; "but you were in it. You went down that Saturday as a blind. Deny it if you dare." Leander did not dare. "I could not help myself, gentlemen," he faltered. "Who said you could? And you can't help yourself now, either; so make a clean breast of it. Who are you standing in with? Is it Potter's lot?" If Leander had declared himself to be alone, things might have gone harder with him, and they certainly would never have believed him; so he said it _was_ Potter's lot. "I told you Potter was after that marble, and you wouldn't have it, Count," growled Braddle. "Now you're satisfied." The Count comprised Potter and his lot in a new and original malediction by way of answer, and then said to Leander, "Did Potter tell you to let that Venus stand where all the world might see it?" "I had no discretion," said the hairdresser. "I'm not responsible, indeed, gents." "No discretion! I should think you hadn't. Nor Potter either, acting the dog in the manger like this. Where'll _he_ find his market for it, eh? What orders have you got? When are you going to get it across?" "I've no notions. I haven't received no directions," said Leander. "A nice sort o' mug you are to be trusted with a job like this," said Braddle. "I did think Potter was better up in his work, I did. A pretty bungle he'll make of it!" "It would serve him right, for interfering with fellow-professionals in this infernal unprincipled manner. But he shan't have the chance, Braddle, he shan't have the chance; we'll steal a march on him this time." "Is the coast clear yet?" said Braddle. "We must risk it. We shall find a route for it, never fear," was the reply. "Now, you cursed hairdresser, you listen to what I'm going to tell you. That Venus is our lawful property, and, by ----, we mean to get her into our hands again. D'ye hear that?" Leander heard, and with delight. So long as he could once get free from the presence of the statue, and out of the cross-fire of burglars and police, he was willing by this time to abandon the cloak and ring.