"You come with me."
Mr c.o.x objected.
"None of your handling."
"Who wants to handle you? You come with me, that"s all."
"Yes, c.o.x, that"s all. You go and a.s.sist our friend in prising open the pretty lady"s jewel-boxes and dressing-cases, and so on. You know quite well that it isn"t the first time you"ve been at the game, dear boy."
"I"ll have no finger in anything of the kind; and as for your imputations, I"ll make you regret them, Mr Burton."
"You will, will you? Take care, c.o.x; I"m in a nasty mood. If you won"t take a hand in this game, we"ll play it in spite of you. We"ll count you out. Not a farthing shall you have of my money, and I defy you to put the law into execution against me. You know you daren"t--now. The moment you move, I"ll give the police the office to keep an eye on Thomas c.o.x. You"ve more to lose than we have."
"You--you brutes! Don"t try to bully me."
"Bully? I don"t bully, c.o.x. Here, I"ll open that door, and you shall go through it at once, if you please. Only I"ll go with you, and at the foot of the stairs I"ll denounce you for murder. If the game is lost, as it will be if you won"t play it out, I don"t care if I do hang, so long as you hang with me."
"What--what the devil do you mean by keeping on dropping hints about--about murder?"
"You shall know, if you like, when you reach the foot of the stairs.
Take my earnest and well-meant advice, keep in with us, and take my word for it that each moment you waste brings the shadow of the gallows just a little nearer. I"ll give you all the explanations you want afterwards, if there ever is an afterwards."
Mr c.o.x hesitated. He glanced from one of his companions to the other.
What he saw on their faces seemed to have on him an odd effect. He went with the Flyman into Miss Bewicke"s bedroom, looking as if he had all at once grown older. Mr Burton followed them with his eyes, the peculiar expression of his countenance seeming to endow his stereotyped smile with an unusual prominence. He looked, as he had said of himself, in a nasty mood.
"Leave the door open, Flyman. I also am interested in the proceedings, and should like to be instantly informed when you do light upon my uncle"s precious jewel."
He watched for a moment or two the Flyman pulling open such drawers as were unlocked and turning over their contents.
"Don"t trouble yourself to look at the frills and laces. Women don"t keep jewels among their underwear. Turn your attention to the dressing-table, man."
The Flyman resented the comment on his mode of procedure.
"You never know where a woman does keep her things, especially the thing you"re after, as you"d know if you"d as much experience as I have."
Mr Burton, laughing, lit a cigarette.
"All right, man of many felonies. You"re quite justified in resenting the criticism of the amateur. I was only telling you what was my own idea. Only do be quick and ill.u.s.trate the handiness of which you bragged."
He strolled towards the door which was on the opposite side of the room, the one through which the ladies had vanished. He softly tried the handle; it still was locked. Taking the cigarette from between his lips, he inclined his ear towards the panel and listened.
"They"re quiet. I suppose they"re in her room. I wonder what they"re doing? Problem for the papers which give prizes for puzzles. Under the circ.u.mstances, what might they be expected to be doing? Odds on that they"re doing something else. One might easily see. It wouldn"t take long to cut a piece out of this panel, or, for the matter of that, to take the lock itself clean off. But would it be worth one"s while?
They"ve seen enough. Ye whales and little fishes, they"ve seen too much! Better carry the thing to a conclusion without unnecessary witnesses. If they"re content, we are. What"s up now?"
The question was prompted by an exclamation which came from Miss Bewicke"s bedroom. Mr c.o.x appeared at the entrance.
"Burton, you said that all we wanted was the ruby; that the rest of her things should go untouched."
"Well?"
"The Flyman"s pocketing her jewels."
Mr Burton crossed the floor.
"That won"t do, Flyman. We"re here on an expedition of right. We"re not thieves."
"You said yourself we might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb."
"I did; and you are aware that that is not the kind of sheep I meant.
On this occasion I really must ask you to be honest."
"But I never saw such shiners. Who could resist them, guv"nor? She"s got enough to stock a shop. Why, if we take "em away with us, we sha"n"t be far out, even if we don"t get that blessed ruby."
"It"s the ruby or nothing; also, and nothing. Put those things back."
"I"ve only n.o.bbled one or two. I"ve got to look after myself."
"I, too, have to look after you. You know what was agreed; keep to the terms of the agreement, or, though you "n.o.bble" every "shiner" the lady owns, you"ll be a loser. Put those things back."
There was something about Mr Burton just then which compelled respect, of a kind, which fact the Flyman recognised. His face darkened and, in audible tones, he grumbled. But he produced the trinkets, as requested, and replaced them, one by one, on their velvet beds.
"Is that all?"
"Every blooming one."
"c.o.x, is that all?"
"Yes, I believe it is." He glanced at the open jewel-case. "No, there"s a ring still missing."
The Flyman cursed.
"Can"t a bloke have one?"
"Not unless he wishes to pay for it more than it"s worth. Come, man, look pleasant."
The Flyman did not "look pleasant;" but he restored the ring. Mr Burton expressed approval.
"That"s better. Now, show yourself as keen in the right direction.
Give us a proof of the "handiness" you talked about, and find that ruby. It"ll be worth to you more than all those other things."
On this point the Flyman, from his manner, seemed to have his doubts; but he continued his researches. Mr c.o.x observed that they were strictly confined to what Mr Burton had called the "right direction."
Mr Burton, returning to the locked door, pursued his meditations as he listened at the panel.
"It"s odd that they"re so quiet, and suggests mischief. In such a case, surely women are not quiet. Unless--unless what? That"s what I should like to know."
"Burton, is this the ruby?"
The words came sharply from Mr c.o.x, with a sudden interposition from the Flyman.