XXIII + 

Madame Omber + 

Before the echo of that crash ceased to reverberate from room to room, Lanyard slipped to one side of the doorway, from which point he could command the perspective of the salons together with a partial view of the front doors. And he was no more than there, in the shadow of the porti├иres, when light from an electrolier flooded the reception-hall. + 

It showed him a single figure, that of a handsome woman, considerably beyond middle age but still a well-poised, vigorous, and commanding presence, in full evening dress of such magnificence as to suggest recent attendance at some State function. + 

Standing beneath the light, she was restoring a key to a brocaded handbag. This done, she turned her head and spoke indistinguishably over her shoulder. Promptly there came into view a second woman of about the same age, but even more strong and able of appearanceтБатАФa serving-woman, in plain, dark garments, undoubtedly madameтАЩs maid. + 

Handing over the brocaded bag, madame unlatched the throat of her ermine cloak and surrendered it to the servantтАЩs care. + 

Her next words were audible, and reassuring in as far as they indicated ignorance of anything amiss. + 

тАЬThank you, Sidonie. You may go to bed now.тАЭ + 

тАЬMadame will not need me to undress her?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm not ready yet. When I amтБатАФIтАЩm old enough to take care of myself. Besides, I prefer you to go to bed, Sidonie. It doesnтАЩt improve your temper to lose your beauty sleep.тАЭ + 

тАЬMany thanks, madame. Good night.тАЭ + 

тАЬGood night.тАЭ + 

The maid moved off toward the main staircase, while her mistress turned deliberately through the salons toward the library. + 

At this, swinging back to the girl in a stride, and grasping her wrist to compel attention, Lanyard spoke in a rapid whisper, mouth close to her ear, but his solicitude so unselfish and so intense that for the moment he was altogether unconscious of either her allure or his passion. + 

тАЬThis way,тАЭ he said, imperatively drawing her toward the window by which he had entered: тАЬthereтАЩs a balcony outsideтБатАФa short drop to the ground.тАЭ And unlatching the window, he urged her through it. тАЬTry to leave by the back gatewayтБатАФthe one I showed you beforeтБатАФavoiding EkstromтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬBut surely you are coming too?тАЭ she insisted, hanging back. + 

тАЬImpossible: thereтАЩs no time for us both to escape undetected. I shall keep madame interested only long enough for you to get away. But take thisтАЭтБатАФand he pressed his automatic into her hand. тАЬNoтБатАФtake it; IтАЩve another,тАЭ he lied, тАЬand you may need it. DonтАЩt fear for me, but goтБатАФO my heart!тБатАФgo!тАЭ + 

The footfalls of Madame Omber were sounding dangerously near, and without giving the girl more opportunity to protest, Lanyard closed the windows, shot the latch and stole like a cat round the farther side of the desk, pausing within a few feet of the screen and safe. + 

The desk-lamp was still burning, where the girl had left it behind the cinnabar screen; and Lanyard knew that the diffusion of its rays was enough to render his figure distinctly and immediately visible to one entering the doorway. + 

Now everything hung upon the temper of the householder, whether she would take that apparition quietly, deceived by LanyardтАЩs mumming into believing she had only a poor thievish fool to deal with, or with a storm of bourgeois hysteria. In the latter event, LanyardтАЩs hand was ready planted, palm down, on the top of the desk: should the woman attempt to give the alarm, a single bound would carry the adventurer across it in full flight for the front doors. + 

In the doorway the mistress of the house appeared and halted, her quick bright eyes shifting from the light on the floor to the dark figure of the thief. Then, in a stride, she found a switch and turned on the chandelier, a blaze of light. + 

As this happened, Lanyard cowered, lifting an elbow as though to guard his faceтБатАФas though expecting to find himself under the muzzle of a revolver. + 

The gesture had the calculated effect of focusing the attention of the woman exclusively to him, after one swift glance round had shown her a room tenanted only by herself and a cringing thief. And immediately it was made manifest that, whether or not deceived, she meant to take the situation quietly, if in a strong hand. + 

Her eyes narrowed and the muscles of her square, almost masculine jaw hardened ominously as she looked the intruder up and down. Then a flicker of contempt modified the grimness of her countenance. She took three steps forward, pausing on the other side of the desk, her back to the doorway. + 

Lanyard trembled visibly.тБатАКтБатАж + 

тАЬWell!тАЭтБатАФthe word boomed like the opening gun of an engagementтБатАФтАЬWell, my man!тАЭтБатАФthe shrewd eyes swerved to the closed door of the safe and quickly back againтБатАФтАЬyou donтАЩt seem to have accomplished much!тАЭ + 

тАЬFor GodтАЩs sake, madame!тАЭ Lanyard blurted in a husky, shaken voice, nothing like his ownтБатАФтАЬdonтАЩt have me arrested! Give me a chance! I havenтАЩt taken anything. DonтАЩt call the flics!тАЭ + 

He checked, moving an uncertain hand towards his throat as if his tongue had gone dry. + 

тАЬCome, come!тАЭ the woman answered, with a look almost of pity. тАЬI havenтАЩt called anyoneтБатАФas yet.тАЭ + 

The fingers of one strong white hand were drumming gently on the top of the desk; then, with a movement so quick and sure that Lanyard himself could hardly have bettered it, they slipped down to a handle of a drawer, jerked it open, closed round the butt of a revolver, and presented it at the adventurerтАЩs head. + 

Automatically he raised both hands. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt shoot!тАЭ he cried. тАЬIтАЩm not armedтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬIs that the truth?тАЭ + 

тАЬYouтАЩve only to search me, madame!тАЭ + 

тАЬThanks!тАЭ MadameтАЩs accents now discovered a trace of dry humour. тАЬIтАЩll leave that to you. Turn out your pockets on the desk thereтБатАФand, remember, IтАЩll stand no nonsense!тАЭ + 

The weapon covered Lanyard steadily, leaving him no choice but to obey. As it happened, he was glad of the excuse to listen for sounds to tell how the girl was faring in her flight, and made a pretence of trembling fingers cover the slowness with which he complied. + 

But he heard nothing. + 

When he had visibly turned every pocket inside out, and their contents lay upon the desk, the woman looked the exhibits over incuriously. + 

тАЬPut them back,тАЭ she said curtly. тАЬAnd then fetch that chair over thereтБатАФthe one in the corner. IтАЩve a notion IтАЩd like to talk to you. ThatтАЩs the usual thing, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬHow?тАЭ Lanyard demanded with a vacant stare. + 

тАЬIn all the criminal novels IтАЩve ever read, the law-abiding householder always sits down and has a sociable chat with the housebreakerтБатАФbefore calling in the police. IтАЩm afraid thatтАЩs part of the price youтАЩve got to pay for my hospitality.тАЭ + 

She paused, eyeing Lanyard inquisitively while he restored his belongings to his pockets. тАЬNow, get that chair!тАЭ she ordered; and waited, standing, until she had been obeyed. тАЬThatтАЩs itтБатАФthere! Sit down.тАЭ + 

Leaning against the desk, her revolver held negligently, the speaker favoured Lanyard with a more leisurely inspection; the harshness of her stare was softened, and the anger which at first had darkened her countenance was gone by the time she chose to pursue her catechism. + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs your name? NoтБатАФdonтАЩt answer! I saw your eyes waver, and IтАЩm not interested in a makeshift alias. But itтАЩs the stock question, you know.тБатАКтБатАж Do you care for a cigar?тАЭ + 

She opened a mahogany humidor on the desk. + 

тАЬNo, thanks.тАЭ + 

тАЬRightтБатАФaccording to Hoyle: the criminal always refuses to smoke in these scenes. But letтАЩs forget the book and write our own lines. IтАЩll ask you an original question: Why were you acting just now?тАЭ + 

тАЬActing?тАЭ Lanyard repeated, intrigued by the acuteness of this masterful womanтАЩs mentality. + 

тАЬPreciselyтБатАФpretending you were a common thief. For a moment you actually made me think you afraid of me. But youтАЩre neither the one nor the other. How do I know? Because youтАЩre unarmed, your voice has changed in the last two minutes to that of a cultivated man, youтАЩve stopped cringing and started thinking, and the way you walked across the floor and handled that chair showed how powerfully youтАЩre made. If I didnтАЩt have this revolver, you could overpower me in an instantтБатАФand IтАЩm no weakling, as women go. SoтБатАФwhy the acting?тАЭ + 

Studying his captor with narrow interest, Lanyard smiled faintly and shrugged, but made no answer. He could do no more than thisтБатАФno more than spare for time: the longer he indulged madame in her whim, the better LucyтАЩs chances of scot-free escape. By this time, he reckoned, she would have found her way through the service gate to the street. But he was on edge with unending apprehension of mischance. + 

тАЬCome, come!тАЭ Madame Omber insisted. тАЬYouтАЩre hardly civil, my man. Answer my question!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou donтАЩt expect me toтБатАФdo you?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy not? You owe me at least satisfaction of my curiosity, in return for breaking into my house.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut if, as you suggest, I amтБатАФor wasтБатАФacting with a purpose, why expect me to give the show away?тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs logic. I knew you could think. MoreтАЩs the pity!тАЭ + 

тАЬPity I can think?тАЭ + 

тАЬPity you can get your own consent to waste yourself like this. IтАЩm an old woman, and I know men better than most; I can see ability in you. So I say, itтАЩs a pity you wonтАЩt use yourself to better advantage. DonтАЩt misunderstand me: this isnтАЩt the conventional act; I donтАЩt hold with encouraging a fool in his folly. YouтАЩre a fool, for all your intelligence, and the only cure I can see for you is drastic punishment.тАЭ + 

тАЬMeaning the Sant├й, madame?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite so. I tell you frankly, when IтАЩm finished lecturing you, off you go to prison.тАЭ + 

тАЬIf thatтАЩs the case I donтАЩt see I stand to gain much by retailing the history of my life. This seems to be your cue to ring for servants to call the police.тАЭ + 

A trace of anger shone in the womanтАЩs eyes. тАЬYouтАЩre right,тАЭ she said shortly; тАЬI dare say Sidonie isnтАЩt asleep yet. IтАЩll get her to telephone while I keep an eye on you.тАЭ + 

Bending over the desk, without removing her gaze from the adventurer, his captor groped for, found, and pressed a call-button. + 

From some remote quarter of the house sounded the grumble of an electric bell. + 

тАЬPity youтАЩre so brazen,тАЭ she observed. тАЬJust a little less side, and youтАЩd be a rather engaging person!тАЭ + 

Lanyard made no reply. In fact he wasnтАЩt listening. + 

Under the strain of that suspense, the iron control which had always been his was breaking downтБатАФsince now it was for another he was concerned. And he wasted no strength trying to enforce it. The stress of his anxiety was both undisguised and undisguisable. Nor did Madame Omber overlook it. + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the trouble, eh? Is it that already you hear the cell door clang in your ears?тАЭ + 

As she spoke, Lanyard left his chair with a movement in the execution of which all his wits cooperated, with a spring as lithe and sure and swift as an animalтАЩs, that carried him like a shot across the two yards or so between them. + 

The slightest error in his reckoning would have finished him: for the other had been watching for just such a move, and the revolver was nearly level with LanyardтАЩs head when he grasped it by the barrel, turned that to the ceiling, imprisoned the womanтАЩs wrist with his other hand, and in two movements had captured the weapon without injuring its owner. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt be alarmed,тАЭ he said quietly. тАЬIтАЩm not going to do anything more violent than to put this weapon out of commission.тАЭ + 

Breaking it smartly, he shot a shower of cartridges to the door, and tossed the now-useless weapon into a wastebasket beneath the desk. + 

тАЬHope I didnтАЩt hurt you,тАЭ he added abstractedlyтБатАФтАЬbut your pistol was in my way!тАЭ + 

He took a stride toward the door, pulled up, and hung in hesitation, frowning absently at the woman; who, without moving, laughed quietly and watched him with a twinkle of malicious diversion. + 

He repaid this with a stare of thoughtful appraisal; from the first he had recognized in her a character of uncommon tolerance and amiability. + 

тАЬPardon, madame, butтБатАФтАЭ he began abruptlyтБатАФand checked in constrained appreciation of his impudence. + 

тАЬIf thatтАЩs permission to interrupt your reverie,тАЭ Madame Omber remarked, тАЬI donтАЩt mind telling you, youтАЩre the most extraordinary burglar I ever heard of!тАЭ + 

Footfalls became audible on the staircaseтБатАФthe hasty scuffling of slippered feet. + 

тАЬIs that you, Sidonie?тАЭ madame called. + 

The voice of the maid replied: тАЬYes, madameтБатАФcoming!тАЭ + 

тАЬWellтБатАФdonтАЩt, just yetтБатАФnot till I call you.тАЭ + 

тАЬVery good, madame.тАЭ + 

The woman returned complete attention to Lanyard. + 

тАЬNow, monsieur-of-two-minds, what is it you wish to say to me?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy did you do that?тАЭ the adventurer asked, with a jerk of his head toward the hall. + 

тАЬTell Sidonie to wait instead of calling for help? BecauseтБатАФwell, because you interest me strangely. IтАЩve got a theory youтАЩre in a desperate quandary and are about to throw yourself on my mercy.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou are right,тАЭ Lanyard admitted tersely. + 

тАЬAh! Now you do begin to grow interesting! Would you mind explaining why you think IтАЩll be merciful?тАЭ + 

тАЬBecause, madame, IтАЩve done you a great service, and feel I can count upon your gratitude.тАЭ + 

The FrenchwomanтАЩs eyebrows lifted at this. тАЬDoubtless, monsieur knows what heтАЩs talking aboutтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬListen, madame: I am in love with a young woman, an American, a stranger and friendless in Paris. If anything happens to me tonight, if I am arrested or assassinatedтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬIs that likely?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite likely, madame: I have enemies among the Apaches, and in my own profession as well; and I have reason to believe that several of them are in this neighbourhood tonight. I may possibly not escape their attentions. In that event, this young lady of whom I speak will need a protector.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd why must I interest myself in her fate, pray?тАЭ + 

тАЬBecause, madame, of this service I have done youтБатАКтБатАж Recently, in London, you were robbedтБатАФтАЭ + 

The woman started and coloured with excitement: тАЬYou know something of my jewels?тАЭ + 

тАЬEverything, madame: it was I who stole them.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou? You are, then, that Lone Wolf?тАЭ + 

тАЬI was, madame.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy the past tense?тАЭ the woman demanded, eyeing him with a portentous frown. + 

тАЬBecause I am done with thieving.тАЭ + 

She threw back her head and laughed, but without mirth: тАЬA likely story, monsieur! Have you reformed since I caught you hereтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬDoes it matter when? I take it that proof, visible, tangible proof of my sincerity, more than a meaningless date, would be needed to convince you.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo doubt of that, Monsieur the Lone Wolf!тАЭ + 

тАЬCould you ask better proof than the restoration of your stolen property?тАЭ + 

тАЬAre you trying to bribe me to let you off with an offer to return my jewels?тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm afraid emergency reformation wouldnтАЩt persuade youтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYou may well be afraid, monsieur!тАЭ + 

тАЬBut if I can prove IтАЩve already restored your jewelsтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you have not.тАЭ + 

тАЬIf madame will do me the favour to open her safe, she will find them thereтБатАФconspicuously placed.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat nonsenseтБатАФ!тАЭ + 

тАЬAm I wrong in assuming that madame didnтАЩt return from England until quite recently?тАЭ + 

тАЬBut today, in factтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd you havenтАЩt troubled to investigate your safe since returning?тАЭ + 

тАЬIt had not occurred to meтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬThen why not test my statement before denying it?тАЭ + 

With an incredulous shrug Madame Omber terminated a puzzled scrutiny of LanyardтАЩs countenance, and turned to the safe. + 

тАЬBut to have done what you declare you have,тАЭ she argued, тАЬyou must have known the combinationтБатАФsince it appears you havenтАЩt broken this open.тАЭ + 

The combination ran glibly off LanyardтАЩs tongue. And at this, with every evidence of excitement, at length beginning to hope if not to believe, the woman set herself to open the safe. Within a minute she had succeeded, the morocco-bound jewel-case was in her hand, and a hasty examination had assured her its treasure was intact. + 

тАЬBut whyтБатАФ?тАЭ she stammered, pale with emotionтБатАФтАЬwhy, monsieur, why?тАЭ + 

тАЬBecause I decided to leave off stealing for a livelihood.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhen did you bring these jewels here?тАЭ + 

тАЬWithin the weekтБатАФfour or five nights sinceтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd thenтБатАФrepented, eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬI own it.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut came here again tonight, to steal a second time what you had stolen once?тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs true, too.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd I interrupted youтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬPardon, madame: not you, but my better self. I came to stealтБатАФI could not.тАЭ + 

тАЬMonsieurтБатАФyou do not convince. I fail to fathom your motives, butтБатАФтАЭ + 

A sudden shock of heavy trampling feet in the reception-hall, accompanied by a clash of excited voices, silenced her and brought Lanyard instantly to the face-about. + 

Above that loud wrangleтБатАФof which neither had received the least warning, so completely had their argument absorbed themтБатАФSidonieтАЩs accents were audible: тАЬMadameтБатАФmadame!тАЭтБатАФa cry of protest. + 

тАЬWhat is it?тАЭ madame demanded of Lanyard. + 

He threw her the word тАЬPolice!тАЭ as he turned and flung himself into the recess of the window. + 

But when he wrenched it open the voice of a picket on the lawn saluted him in sharp warning; and when, involuntarily, he stepped out upon the balcony, a flash of flame split the gloom below, a loud report rang in the quiet of the park, and a bullet slapped viciously the stone facing of the window. + 