XIII + 

Confessional + 

And then, when the girl made no response, but remained with troubled gaze focused on some remote abstraction, тАЬYou will have tea, wonтАЩt you?тАЭ he urged. + 

She recalled her thoughts, nodded with the faintest of smilesтБатАФтАЬYes, thank you!тАЭтБатАФand dropped into a chair. + 

He began at once to make talk in effort to dissipate that constraint which stood between them like an unseen alien presence: тАЬYou must be very hungry?тАЭ + 

тАЬI am.тАЭ + 

тАЬSorry IтАЩve nothing better to offer you. IтАЩd have run out for something more substantial, onlyтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬOnlyтБатАФ?тАЭ she prompted, coolly helping herself to biscuit and potted ham. + 

тАЬI didnтАЩt think it wise to leave you alone.тАЭ + 

тАЬWas that before or after youтАЩd made up your mind about meтБатАФthe latest phase, I mean?тАЭ she persisted with a trace of malice. + 

тАЬBefore,тАЭ he returned calmlyтБатАФтАЬlikewise, afterwards. Either way you care to take it, it wouldnтАЩt have been wise to leave you here. Suppose you had waked up to find me gone, yourself alone in this strange houseтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩve been awake several hours,тАЭ she interposedтБатАФтАЬfound myself locked in, and heard no sound to indicate that you were still here.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry: I was overtired and slept like a log.тБатАКтБатАж But assuming the case: you would have gone out, alone, pennilessтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬThrough a locked door, Mr.┬аLanyard?тАЭ + 

тАЬI shouldnтАЩt have left it locked,тАЭ he explained patiently.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬYou would have found yourself friendless and without resources in a city to which you are a stranger.тАЭ + 

She nodded: тАЬTrue. But what of that?тАЭ + 

тАЬIn desperation you might have been forced to go backтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd report the outcome of my investigation!тАЭ + 

тАЬPressure might have been brought to induce admissions damaging to me,тАЭ Lanyard submitted pleasantly. тАЬWhether or no, youтАЩd have been obliged to renew associations youтАЩre well rid of.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou feel sure of that?тАЭ + 

тАЬBut naturally.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow can you be?тАЭ she challenged. тАЬYouтАЩve yet to know me twenty-four hours.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut perhaps I know the associations better. In point of fact, I do. Even though you may have stooped to play the spy last night, Miss BannonтБатАФyou couldnтАЩt keep it up. You had to fly further contamination from that pack of jackals.тАЭ + 

тАЬNotтБатАФyou feel sureтБатАФmerely to keep you under observation?тАЭ + 

тАЬI do feel sure of that. I have your word for it.тАЭ + 

The girl deliberately finished her tea, and sat back, regarding him steadily beneath level brows. Then she said with an odd laugh: тАЬYou have your own way of putting one on honour!тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt need toтБатАФwith you.тАЭ + 

She analyzed this with gathering perplexity. тАЬWhat do you mean by that?тАЭ + 

тАЬI mean, I donтАЩt need to put you on your honourтБатАФbecause IтАЩm sure of you. Even were I not, still IтАЩd refrain from exacting any pledge, or attempting to.тАЭ He paused and shrugged before continuing: тАЬIf I thought you were still to be distrusted, Miss Bannon, IтАЩd say: тАШThereтАЩs a free door; go when you like, back to the Pack, turn in your report, and let them act as they see fit.тАЩтБатАКтБатАж Do you think I care for them? Do you imagine for one instant that I fear any oneтБатАФor allтБатАФof that gang?тАЭ + 

тАЬThat rings suspiciously of egoism!тАЭ + 

тАЬLet it,тАЭ he retorted. тАЬItтАЩs pride of caste, if you must know. I hold myself a grade better than such cattle; IтАЩve intelligence, at least.тБатАКтБатАж I can take care of myself!тАЭ + 

If he might read her countenance, it expressed more than anything else distress and disappointment. + 

тАЬWhy do you boast like thisтБатАФto me?тАЭ + 

тАЬLess through self-satisfaction than in contempt for a pack of murderous mongrelsтБатАФimpatience that I have to consider such creatures as Popinot, Wertheimer, De┬аMorbihan andтБатАФall their crew.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd Bannon,тАЭ she corrected calmlyтБатАФтАЬyou meant to say!тАЭ + 

тАЬWelтАСlтБатАФтАЭ he stammered, discountenanced. + 

тАЬIt doesnтАЩt matter,тАЭ she assured him. тАЬI quite understand, and strange as it may sound, IтАЩve very little feeling in the matter.тАЭ And then she acknowledged his stupefied stare with a weary smile. тАЬI know what I know,тАЭ she added, with obscure significance.тБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬIтАЩd give a good deal to know how much you know,тАЭ he muttered in his confusion. + 

тАЬBut what do you know?тАЭ she caught him upтБатАФтАЬagainst Mr.┬аBannonтБатАФagainst my father, that isтБатАФthat makes you so ready to suspect both him and me?тАЭ + 

тАЬNothing,тАЭ he confessedтБатАФтАЬI know nothing; but I suspect everything and everybody.тБатАКтБатАж And the more I think of it, the more closely I examine that brutal business of last night, the more I seem to sense his will behind it allтБатАФas one might glimpse a face in darkness through a lighted lattice.тБатАКтБатАж Oh, laugh if you like! It sounds high-flown, I know. But thatтАЩs the effect I get.тБатАКтБатАж What took you to my room, if not his orders? Why does he train with De┬аMorbihan, if heтАЩs not blood-kin to that breed? Why are you running away from him if not because youтАЩve found out his part in that conspiracy?тАЭ + 

His pause and questioning look evoked no answer; the girl sat moveless and intent, meeting his gaze inscrutably. And something in her impassive attitude worked a little exasperation into his temper. + 

тАЬWhy,тАЭ he declared hotlyтБатАФтАЬif I dare trust to intuitionтБатАФforgive me if I pain youтБатАФтАЭ + 

She interrupted with impatience: тАЬIтАЩve already begged you not to consider my feelings, Mr.┬аLanyard! If you dared trust to your intuitionтБатАФwhat then?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, then, I could believe that Mr.┬аBannon, your fatherтБатАКтБатАж I could believe it was his order that killed poor Roddy!тАЭ + 

There could be no doubting her horrified and half-incredulous surprise. + 

тАЬRoddy?тАЭ she iterated in a whisper almost inaudible, with face fast blanching. тАЬRoddyтБатАФ!тАЭ + 

тАЬInspector Roddy of Scotland Yard,тАЭ he told her mercilessly, тАЬwas murdered in his sleep last night at TroyonтАЩs. The murderer broke into his room by way of mineтБатАФthe two adjoin. He used my razor, wore my dressing-gown to shield his clothing, did everything he could think of to cast suspicion on me, and when I came in assaulted me, meaning to drug and leave me insensible to be found by the police. FortunatelyтБатАФI was beforehand with him. I had just left him drugged, insensible in my place, when I met you in the corridor.тБатАКтБатАж You didnтАЩt know?тАЭ + 

тАЬHow can you ask?тАЭ the girl moaned. + 

Bending forward, an elbow on the table, she worked her hands together until their knuckles shone white through the skinтБатАФbut not as white as the face from which her eyes sought his with a look of dumb horror, dazed, pitiful, imploring. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre not deceiving me? But noтБатАФwhy should you?тАЭ she faltered. тАЬBut how terrible, how unspeakably awful!тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry,тАЭ Lanyard mumbledтБатАФтАЬIтАЩd have held my tongue if I hadnтАЩt thought you knewтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYou thought I knewтБатАФand didnтАЩt lift a finger to save the man?тАЭ She jumped up with a blazing face. тАЬOh, how could you?тАЭ + 

тАЬNoтБатАФnot thatтБатАФI never thought that. But, meeting you then and there, so opportunelyтБатАФI couldnтАЩt ignore the coincidence; and when you admitted you were running away from your father, considering all the circumstances, I was surely justified in thinking it was realization, in part at least, of what had happened that was driving you away.тАЭ + 

She shook her head slowly, her indignation ebbing as quickly as it had risen. тАЬI understand,тАЭ she said; тАЬyou had some excuse, but you were mistaken. I ran awayтБатАФyesтБатАФbut not because of that. I never dreamedтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

She fell silent, sitting with bowed head and twisting her hands together in a manner he found it painful to watch. + 

тАЬBut please,тАЭ he implored, тАЬdonтАЩt take it so much to heart, Miss Bannon. If you knew nothing, you couldnтАЩt have prevented it.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ she said brokenlyтБатАФтАЬI could have done nothingтБатАКтБатАж But I didnтАЩt know. It isnтАЩt thatтБатАФitтАЩs the horror and pity of it. And that you could thinkтБатАФ!тАЭ + 

тАЬBut I didnтАЩt!тАЭ he protestedтБатАФтАЬtruly I did not. And for what I did think, for the injustice I did do you, believe me, IтАЩm truly sorry.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou were quite justified,тАЭ she saidтБатАФтАЬnot only by circumstantial evidence but to a degree in fact. You must knowтБатАКтБатАж now I must tell youтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬNothing you donтАЩt wish to!тАЭ he interrupted. тАЬThe fact that I practically kidnapped you under pretence of doing you a service, and suspected you of being in the pay of that Pack, gives me no title to your confidence.тАЭ + 

тАЬCan I blame you for thinking what you did?тАЭ She went on slowly, without looking upтБатАФgaze steadfast to her interlaced fingers: тАЬNow for my own sake I want you to know what otherwise, perhaps, I shouldnтАЩt have told youтБатАФnot yet, at all events. IтАЩm no more BannonтАЩs daughter than youтАЩre his son. Our names sound alikeтБатАФpeople frequently make the same mistake. My name is ShannonтБатАФLucy Shannon. Mr.┬аBannon called me Lucia because he knew I didnтАЩt like it, to tease me; for the same reason he always kept up the pretence that I was his daughter when people misunderstood.тАЭ + 

тАЬButтБатАФif that is soтБатАФthen whatтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhyтБатАФitтАЩs very simple.тАЭ Still she didnтАЩt look up. тАЬIтАЩm a trained nurse. Mr.┬аBannon is consumptiveтБатАФso far gone, itтАЩs a wonder he didnтАЩt die years ago: for months IтАЩve been haunted by the thought that itтАЩs only the evil in him keeps him alive. It wasnтАЩt long after I took the assignment to nurse him that I found out something about him.тБатАКтБатАж HeтАЩd had a haemorrhage at his desk; and while he lay in coma, and I was waiting for the doctor, I happened to notice one of the papers heтАЩd been working over when he fell. And then, just as I began to appreciate the sort of man I was employed by, he came to, and sawтБатАФand knew. I found him watching me with those dreadful eyes of his, and though he was unable to speak, knew my life wasnтАЩt safe if ever I breathed a word of what I had read. I would have left him then, but he was too cunning for me, and when in time I found a chance to escapeтБатАФI was afraid IтАЩd not live long if ever I left him. He went about it deliberately; to keep me frightened, and though he never mentioned the matter directly, let me know plainly, in a hundred ways, what his power was and what would happen if I whispered a word of what I knew. ItтАЩs nearly a year nowтБатАФnearly a year of endless terror andтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Her voice fell; she was trembling with the recrudescent suffering of that yearlong servitude. And for a little Lanyard felt too profoundly moved to trust himself to speak; he stood aghast, staring down at this woman, so intrinsically and gently feminine, so strangely strong and courageous; and vaguely envisaging what anguish must have been hers in enforced association with a creature of BannonтАЩs ruthless stamp, he was rent with compassion and swore to himself heтАЩd stand by her and see her through and free and happy if he died for itтБатАФor ended in the Sant├й! + 

тАЬPoor child!тАЭ he heard himself murmuringтБатАФтАЬpoor child!тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt pity me!тАЭ she insisted, still with face averted. тАЬI donтАЩt deserve it. If I had the spirit of a mouse, IтАЩd have defied him; it needed only courage enough to say one word to the policeтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬBut who is he, then?тАЭ Lanyard demanded. тАЬWhat is he, I mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬI hardly know how to tell you. And I hardly dare: I feel as if these walls would betray me if I did.тБатАКтБатАж But to me heтАЩs the incarnation of all things evil.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ She shook herself with a nervous laugh. тАЬBut why be silly about it? I donтАЩt really know what or who he is: I only suspect and believe that he is a man whose life is devoted to planning evil and ordering its execution through his lieutenants. When the papers at home speak of тАШThe Man Higher UpтАЩ they mean Archer Bannon, though they donтАЩt know itтБатАФor else IтАЩm merely a hysterical woman exaggerating the impressions of a morbid imagination.тБатАКтБатАж And thatтАЩs all I know of him that matters.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut why, if you believe all thisтБатАФhow did you at length find courageтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬBecause I no longer had courage to endure; because I was more afraid to stay than to goтБатАФafraid that my own soul would be forfeit. And then, last night, he ordered me to go to your room and search it for evidence that you were the Lone Wolf. It was the first time heтАЩd ever asked anything like that of me. I was afraid, and though I obeyed, I was glad when you interruptedтБатАФglad even though I had to lie the way I did.тБатАКтБатАж And all that worked on me, after IтАЩd gone back to my room, until I felt I could stand it no longer; and after a long time, when the house seemed all still, I got up, dressed quietly andтБатАКтБатАж That is how I came to meet youтБатАФquite by accident.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you seemed so frightened at first when you saw meтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬI was,тАЭ she confessed simply; тАЬI thought you were Mr.┬аGreggs.тАЭ + 

тАЬGreggs?тАЭ + 

тАЬMr.┬аBannonтАЩs private secretaryтБатАФhis right-hand man. HeтАЩs about your height and has a suit like the one you wear, and in that poor lightтБатАФat the distance I didnтАЩt notice you were clean-shavenтБатАФGreggs wears a moustacheтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬThen it was Greggs murdered Roddy and tried to drug me!тБатАКтБатАж By George, IтАЩd like to know whether the police got there before Bannon, or somebody else, discovered the substitution. It was a telegram to the police, you know, I sent from the Bourse last night!тАЭ + 

In his excitement Lanyard began to pace the floor rapidly; and now that he was no longer staring at her, the girl lifted her head and watched him closely as he moved to and fro, talking aloudтБатАФmore to himself than to her. + 

тАЬI wish I knew!тБатАКтБатАж And what a lucky thing, you did meet me! For if youтАЩd gone on to the Gare du Nord and waited there.тБатАКтБатАж Well, it isnтАЩt likely Bannon didnтАЩt discover your flight before eight oтАЩclock this morning, is it?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm afraid not.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd theyтАЩve drawn the deadline for me round every conceivable exit from Paris: PopinotтАЩs Apaches are picketed everywhere. And if Bannon had found out about you in time, it would have needed only a wordтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He paused and shuddered to think what might have ensued had that word been spoken and the girl been found waiting for her train in the Gare du Nord. + 

тАЬMercifully, weтАЩve escaped that. And now, with any sort of luck, Bannon ought to be busy enough, trying to get his precious Mr.┬аGreggs out of the Sant├й, to give us a chance. And a fighting chance is all I ask.тАЭ + 

тАЬMr.┬аLanyardтАЭтБатАФthe girl bent toward him across the table with a gesture of eager interestтБатАФтАЬhave you any idea why heтБатАФwhy Mr.┬аBannon hates you so?тАЭ + 

тАЬBut does he? I donтАЩt know!тАЭ + 

тАЬIf he doesnтАЩt, why should he plot to cast suspicion of murder on you, and why be so anxious to know whether you were really the Lone Wolf? I saw his eyes light up when De┬аMorbihan mentioned that name, after dinner; and if ever I saw hatred in a manтАЩs face, it was in his as he watched you, when you werenтАЩt looking.тАЭ + 

тАЬAs far as I know, I never heard of him before,тАЭ Lanyard said carelessly. тАЬI fancy itтАЩs nothing more than the excitement of a manhunt. Now that theyтАЩve found me out, De┬аMorbihan and his crew wonтАЩt rest until theyтАЩve got my scalp.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut why?тАЭ + 

тАЬProfessional jealousy. WeтАЩre all crooks, all in the same boat, only I wonтАЩt row to their stroke. IтАЩve always played a lone hand successfully; now they insist on coming into the game and sharing my winnings. And IтАЩve told them where they could go.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd because of that, theyтАЩre willing toтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬThereтАЩs nothing they wouldnтАЩt do, Miss Shannon, to bring me to my knees or see me put out of the way, where my operations couldnтАЩt hurt their pocketbooks. WellтБатАКтБатАж all I ask is a fighting chance, and they shall have their way!тАЭ + 

Her brows contracted. тАЬI donтАЩt understand.тБатАКтБатАж You want a fighting chanceтБатАФto surrenderтБатАФto give in to their demands?тАЭ + 

тАЬIn a wayтБатАФyes. I want a fighting chance to do what IтАЩd never in the world get them to creditтБатАФgive it all up and leave them a free field.тАЭ + 

And when still she searched his face with puzzled eyes, he insisted: тАЬI mean it; I want to get awayтБатАФclear outтБатАФchuck the game for good and all!тАЭ + 

A little silence greeted this announcement. Lanyard, at pause near the table, resting a hand on it, bent to the girlтАЩs upturned face a grave but candid regard. And the deeps of her eyes that never swerved from his were troubled strangely in his vision. He could by no means account for the light he seemed to see therein, a light that kindled while he watched like a tiny flame, feeble, fearful, vacillant, then as the moments passed steadied and grew stronger but ever leaped and danced; so that he, lost in the wonder of it and forgetful of himself, thought of it as the ardent face of a happy child dancing in the depths of some brown autumnal woodland.тБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬYou,тАЭ she breathed incredulouslyтБатАФтАЬyou mean, youтАЩre going to stopтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬI have stopped, Miss Shannon. The Lone Wolf has prowled for the last time. I didnтАЩt know it until I woke up, an hour or so ago, but IтАЩve turned my last job.тАЭ + 

He remarked her hands were small, in keeping with the slightness of her person, but somehow didnтАЩt seem soтБатАФwore a look of strength and capability, befitting hands trained to a nurseтАЩs duties; and saw them each tightfisted but quivering as they rested on the table, as though their mistress struggled to suppress the manifestation of some emotion as powerful as unfathomable to him. + 

тАЬBut why?тАЭ she demanded in bewilderment. тАЬBut why do you say that? What can have happened to make youтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot fear of that Pack!тАЭ he laughedтБатАФтАЬnot that, I promise you.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, I know!тАЭ she said impatientlyтБатАФтАЬI know that very well. But still I donтАЩt understand.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬIf it wonтАЩt bore you, IтАЩll try to explain.тАЭ He drew up his chair and sat down again, facing her across the littered table. тАЬI donтАЩt suppose youтАЩve ever stopped to consider what an essentially stupid animal a crook must be. Most of them are stupid because they practise clumsily one of the most difficult professions imaginable, and inevitably fail at it, yet persist. They wouldnтАЩt think of undertaking a job of civil engineering with no sort of preparation, but theyтАЩll tackle a dangerous proposition in burglary without a thought, and pay for failure with years of imprisonment, and once out try it again. ThatтАЩs one kind of criminalтБатАФthe ninety-nine percent classтБатАФincurably stupid! ThereтАЩs another class, men whose imagination forewarns them of dangers and whose mental training, technical equipment and sheer manual dexterity enable them to attack a formidable proposition like a modern safeтБатАФby way of illustrationтБатАФand force its secret. TheyтАЩre the successful criminals, like myselfтБатАФbut theyтАЩre no less stupid, no less failures, than the other ninety-nine in our every hundred, because they never stop to think. It never occurs to them that the same intelligence, applied to any one of the trades they must be masters of, would not only pay them better, but leave them their self-respect and rid them forever of the dread of arrest that haunts us all like the memory of some shameful act.тБатАКтБатАж All of which is much more of a lecture than I meant to inflict upon you, Miss Shannon, and sums up to just this: IтАЩve stopped to think.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

With this he stopped for breath as well, and momentarily was silent, his faint, twisted smile testifying to self-consciousness; but presently, seeing that she didnтАЩt offer to interrupt, but continued to give him her attention so exclusively that it had the effect of fascination, he stumbled on, at first less confidently. + 

тАЬWhen I woke up it was as if, without my will, I had been thinking all this out in my sleep. I saw myself for the first time clearly, as I have been ever since I can rememberтБатАФa crook, thoughtless, vain, rapacious, ruthless, skulking in shadows and thinking myself an amazingly fine fellow because, between coups, I would play the gentleman a bit, venture into the light and swagger in the haunts of the gratin! In my poor, perverted brain I thought there was something fine and thrilling and romantic in the career of a great criminal and myself a wonderful figureтБатАФan enemy of society!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy do you say this to me?тАЭ she demanded abruptly, out of a phase of profound thoughtfulness. + 

He lifted an apologetic shoulder. тАЬBecause, I fancy, IтАЩm no longer self-sufficient. I was all of that, twenty-four hours ago; but now IтАЩm as lonesome as a lost child in a dark forest. I havenтАЩt a friend in the world. IтАЩm like a stray pup, grovelling for sympathy. And you are unfortunate enough to be the only person I can declare myself to. ItтАЩs going to be a fightтБатАФI know that too well!тБатАФand without something outside myself to struggle toward, IтАЩll be heavily handicapped. But ifтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ He faltered, with a look of wistful earnestness. тАЬIf I thought that you, perhaps, were a little interested, that I had your faith to respect and cherishтБатАКтБатАж if I dared hope that youтАЩd be glad to know I had won out against odds, it would mean a great deal to me, it might mean my salvation!тАЭ + 

Watching her narrowly, hanging upon her decision with the anxiety of a man proscribed and hoping against hope for pardon, he saw her eyes cloud and shift from his, her lips parted but hesitant; and before she could speak, hastily interposed: + 

тАЬPlease donтАЩt say anything yet. First let me demonstrate my sincerity. So far IтАЩve done nothing to persuade you butтБатАФtalk and talk and talk! Give me a chance to prove I mean what I say.тАЭ + 

тАЬHowтАЭтБатАФshe enunciated only with visible effort and no longer met his appeal with an open countenanceтБатАФтАЬhow can you do that?тАЭ + 

тАЬIn the long run, by establishing myself in some honest way of life, however modest; but now, and principally, by making reparation for at least one crime IтАЩve committed thatтАЩs not irreparable.тАЭ + 

He caught her quick glance of enquiry, and met it with a confident nod as he placed between them the morocco-bound jewel-case. + 

тАЬIn London, yesterday,тАЭ he said quietly, тАЬI brought off two big coups. One was deliberate, the other the inspiration of a moment. The one IтАЩd planned for months was the theft of the Omber jewelsтБатАФhere.тАЭ + 

He tapped the case and resumed in the same manner: тАЬThe other job needs a diagram: Not long ago a Frenchman named Huysman, living in Tours, was mysteriously murderedтБатАФa poor inventor, who had starved himself to perfect a stabilizator, an attachment to render aeroplanes practically foolproof. His final trials created a sensation and he was on the eve of selling his invention to the Government when he was killed and his plans stolen. Circumstantial evidence pointed to an international spy named EkstromтБатАФAdolph Ekstrom, once Chief of the Aviation Corps of the German Army, cashiered for general blackguardism with a suspicion of treason to boot. However, Ekstrom kept out of sight; and presently the plans turned up in the German War Office. That was a big thing for Germany; already supreme with her dirigibles, the acquisition of the Huysman stabilizator promised her ten yearsтАЩ lead over the world in the field of aeroplanes.тБатАКтБатАж Now yesterday Ekstrom came to the surface in London with those selfsame plans to sell to England. Chance threw him my way, and he mistook me for the man heтАЩd expected to meetтБатАФDowning StreetтАЩs secret agent. WellтБатАФno matter howтБатАФI got the plans from him and brought them over with me, meaning to turn them over to France, to whom by rights they belong.тАЭ + 

тАЬWithout consideration?тАЭ the girl enquired shrewdly. + 

тАЬNot exactly. I had meant to make no profit of the affairтБатАФIтАЩm a bit squeamish about tainted money!тБатАФbut under present conditions, if France insists on rewarding me with safe conduct out of the country, I shanтАЩt refuse it.тБатАКтБатАж Do you approve?тАЭ + 

She nodded earnestly: тАЬIt would be worse than criminal to return them to Ekstrom.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs my view of the matter.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut these?тАЭ The girl rested her hand upon the jewel-case. + 

тАЬThose go back to Madame Omber. She has a home here in Paris that I know very well. In fact, the sole reason why I didnтАЩt steal them here was that she left for England unexpectedly, just as I was all set to strike. Now I purpose making use of my knowledge to restore the jewels without risk of falling into the hands of the police. That will be an easy matter.тБатАКтБатАж And that brings me to a great favour I would beg of you.тАЭ + 

She gave him a look so unexpectedly kind that it staggered him. But he had himself well in hand. + 

тАЬYou canтАЩt now leave Paris before morningтБатАФthanks to my having overslept,тАЭ he explained. тАЬThereтАЩs no honest way I know to raise money before the pawnshops open. But IтАЩm hoping that wonтАЩt be necessary; IтАЩm hoping I can arrange matters without going to that extreme. Meanwhile, you agree that these jewels must be returned?тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course,тАЭ she affirmed gently. + 

тАЬThenтБатАКтБатАж will you accompany me when I replace them? There wonтАЩt be any danger: I promise you that. Indeed, it would be more hazardous for you to wait for me elsewhere while I attended to the matter alone. And IтАЩd like you to be convinced of my good faith.тАЭ + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you think you can trust me for that as well?тАЭ she asked, with a flash of humour. + 

тАЬTrust you!тАЭ + 

тАЬTo believeтБатАКтБатАж Mr.┬аLanyard,тАЭ she told him gently but earnestly, тАЬI do believe.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou make me very happy,тАЭ he saidтБатАКтБатАж тАЬbut IтАЩd like you to see for yourself.тБатАКтБатАж And IтАЩd be glad not to have to fret about your safety in my absence. As a bureau of espionage, PopinotтАЩs brigade of Apaches is without a peer in Europe. I am positively afraid to leave you alone.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

She was silent. + 

тАЬWill you come with me, Miss Shannon?тАЭ + 

тАЬThat is your sole reason for asking this of me?тАЭ she insisted, eyeing him steadily. + 

тАЬThat I wish you to believe in meтБатАФyes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy?тАЭ she pursued, inexorable. + 

тАЬBecauseтБатАКтБатАж IтАЩve already told you.тАЭ + 

тАЬThat you want someoneтАЩs good opinion to cherish.тБатАКтБатАж But why, of all people, meтБатАФwhom you hardly know, of whom what little you do know is hardly reassuring?тАЭ + 

He coloured, and boggled his answer.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬI canтАЩt tell you,тАЭ he confessed in the end. + 

тАЬWhy canтАЩt you tell me?тАЭ + 

He stared at her miserably.тБатАКтБатАж тАЬIтАЩve no right.тБатАКтБатАж In spite of all IтАЩve said, in spite of the faith you so generously promise me, in your eyes I must still figure as a thief, a liar, an impostorтБатАФself-confessed. Men arenтАЩt made over by mere protestations, nor even by their own efforts, in an hour, or a day, or a week. But give me a year: if I can live a year in honesty, and earn my bread, and so prove my strengthтБатАФthen, perhaps, I might find the courage, theтБатАФthe effrontery to tell you why I want your good opinion.тБатАКтБатАж Now IтАЩve said far more than I meant or had any right to. I hope,тАЭ he ventured pleadinglyтБатАФтАЬyouтАЩre not offended.тАЭ + 

Only an instant longer could she maintain her direct and unflinching look. Then, his meaning would no more be ignored. Her lashes fell; a tide of crimson flooded her face; and with a quick movement, pushing her chair a little from the table, she turned aside. But she said nothing. + 

He remained as he had been, bending eagerly toward her. + 

And in the long minute that elapsed before either spoke again, both became oddly conscious of the silence brooding in that lonely little house, of their isolation from the world, of their common peril and mutual dependence. + 

тАЬIтАЩm afraid,тАЭ Lanyard said, after a timeтБатАФтАЬIтАЩm afraid I know what you must be thinking. One canтАЩt do your intelligence the injustice to imagine that you havenтАЩt understood meтБатАФread all that was in my mind andтАЭтБатАФhis voice fellтБатАФтАЬin my heart. I own I was wrong to speak so transparently, to suggest my regard for you, at such a time, under such conditions. I am truly sorry, and beg you to consider unsaid all that I should not have said.тБатАКтБатАж After all, what earthly difference can it make to you if one thief more decides suddenly to reform?тАЭ + 

That brought her abruptly to her feet, to show him a face of glowing loveliness and eyes distractingly dimmed and softened. + 

тАЬNo!тАЭ she implored him breathlesslyтБатАФтАЬpleaseтБатАФyou mustnтАЩt spoil it! YouтАЩve paid me the finest of compliments, and one IтАЩm glad and grateful forтБатАКтБатАж and would I might think I deserved!тБатАКтБатАж You say you need a year to prove yourself? ThenтБатАФIтАЩve no right to say thisтБатАФand you must please not ask me what I meanтБатАФthen I grant you that year. A year I shall wait to hear from you from the day we part, here in Paris.тБатАКтБатАж And tonight, I will go with you, too, and gladly, since you wish it!тАЭ + 

And then as he, having risen, stood at loss, thrilled, and incredulous, with a brave and generous gesture she offered him her hand. + 

тАЬMr.┬аLanyard, I promise.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

To every woman, even the least lovely, her hour of beauty: it had not entered LanyardтАЩs mind to think this woman beautiful until that moment. Of her exotic charm, of the allure of her pensive, plaintive prettiness, he had been well aware; even as he had been unable to deny to himself that he was all for her, that he loved her with all the strength that was his; but not till now had he understood that she was the one woman whose loveliness to him would darken the fairness of all others. + 

And for a little, holding her tremulous hand upon his fingertips as though he feared to bruise it with a ruder contact, he could not take his eyes from her. + 

Then reverently he bowed his head and touched his lips to that handтБатАКтБатАж and felt it snatched swiftly away, and started back, aghast, the idyll roughly dissipated, the castle of his dreams falling in thunders round his ears. + 

In the studio-skylight overhead a pane of glass had fallen in with a shattering crash as ominous as the Trump of Doom. + 