And the pair crept from the room without a sound, and along the dark, thickly-carpeted corridor. CHAPTER X. HONOUR AMONG THIEVES. They ascended the broad, dark staircase noiselessly and crept along to a door which _Fil-en-Quatre_ opened cautiously, when they found themselves in the big salon, a spacious, luxuriantly-furnished room, where many of the notables of Paris, both social and political, were wont to assemble. Society was in ignorance of the true _metier_ of this wealthy Belgian, and as he entertained lavishly upon the money secretly supplied to him from Berlin, he was accepted at his own valuation, and was highly popular in the embassy set. The little ray of light from Ralph's lamp travelled slowly around, revealing quantities of _bric-a-brac_; but so much booty had they already obtained that the pair only selected two gold spoons from a glass-topped specimen-table, with a little box, also of chased gold. As Ralph looked around, he again became seized by that uncontrollable desire to commit damage for the mere sake of wanton destruction; therefore drawing his knife, he slashed quickly at a big ottoman covered with old rose silk damask, cutting it across and across. Afterwards he treated a down cushion in the same fierce fashion, causing the feathers to fly about the room. "Come--enough!" whispered "The Eel" at his elbow. "Where is the Baron's room?" "We've got to find it," was the reply. "And, by Heaven! if the spy moves, I'll put some lead into him!" And together the pair stole forth on their tour of discovery. The silent house was weird and full of distorted shadows. Through the long windows of stained glass which lit the great staircase the moon shone, its rays striking straight across the upper landing. Several of the doors were closed. They were bedrooms, evidently. At one of them Ralph paused, raising his finger to command a halt. With the light touch of the expert he placed his fingers upon the door-handle, and, turning it, without raising the slightest click, he stole inside and stood in silence, listening attentively. All was dark, and there was no noise. For a few moments he waited in patience. Then, hearing no sound of any sleeper, he switched on his little electric lamp, finding the apartment to be a small, well-furnished bedroom, but empty. Both men examined it critically by the light of the torch, arriving at the conclusion that it contained nothing of worth. Therefore, after Ralph had made a vicious slash at the satin-covered down quilt upon the bed, and also drawn his sharp knife across the carpet, severing it clearly, they went out to the next room, and to the next, with similar result. Apparently the Baron did not sleep on that floor at all.