e opened cautiously, when they found themselves in the big salon, a spacious, luxuriantly-furnis

e entertained lavishly upon the money secretly supplied to him from Berlin, h

f bric-à-brac; but so much booty had they already obtained that the pair only selected tw

struction; therefore drawing his knife, he slashed quickly at a big ottoman covered with old rose silk damask, cutting it ac

"The Eel" at his elbow. "

ply. "And, by Heaven! if the spy m

r stole forth on the

tained glass which lit the great staircase the moon shone, its rays striking straight a

rt he placed his fingers upon the door-handle, and, turning it, without raising the slightest click

of any sleeper, he switched on his little electric lamp, finding

ight of the torch, arriving at the concl

t upon the bed, and also drawn his sharp knife across the carpet, severing it

on did not sleep o

ith "The Eel" holding the little lamp, he commenced to attack the fastening with his skeleton keys. At such work he was an expert, for in three minutes the door stood open, and they found themselves standing in a small place, almost

ations of surprise when

e's no time to lose. Let's get at them. I hope this is the key. I suppose he preferred to k

ed it critically by the light of the lamp. Then he exam

nd if so, we shall each be richer by

e Baron, Ralph!" whispered

him! I've been here b

hat you alleged

re now we are acting as patriots, not as common b

ompanion, as he bent beside him and watched him draw

make of safe-Ralph first turned it to the right. Then he turned the key, which w

oor came slowly open; but suddenly, at the same instant, a

h that they did not move. But next

s all up! Across the garden and over th

ightning. Along the corridor through the room by which th

ere, and loud cries were being raised of "Thieves! Assassins! Thieves!" while somebody fired thr

the wall wherein was the Baron's secret exit, and, scaling the wa

he Baron and his servants. Twice were revolvers emptied to attract the police, and then the hub

t was an easy job, after all. I never expected the spy to have an a

"The Eel." "It will be growing light soon, a

nnocent little thing," he laughed, jeeringly. "I suppose s

ld chap," said the other.

ed where women are concerned. A woman will be your ruin

ward, in the directi

ll let himself in with his key. Their movements were stealthy; but, nevertheless, Mother Brouet, in suspic

boys! Some

eyes open, and if anybody calls, we're not receiving visitors-you und

the coins with her c

and the head, adorned

e, and Ansell noiselessly unlocked the door o

it, the dirty plates still upon the table, and the at

aught the letter ly

ing it up, glancing at the superscri

en, crushing the paper in his hand fiercely, he

too. I'm freer without her; but, by Heaven! I'll ma

d Carlier, starting

es

after what you said to her

her said. "It don't concern yo

has she

on't care. You, however, seem to

an maltreated," repl

etter into his jacket pocket and tossing away his cap, while Adolphe re-boun

ting a candle, for the lamp was now very dim, and pr

ss, after which Ralph Ansell produced from his pockets the jewel

e fine stones sparkled-diamonds, emeralds, and rubies-as "The American

sand francs for them, if we pretend we're not hard up. He went back t

" laughed "The Eel" wit

es and carefully counting them, one by one. There were seventy-five blue and pink notes of the

allowed another

fe," he remarked. "But we were fortunate in getting a

rden," Adolphe said. "I d

ave gone down, I assure you," declar

r the affair at the Austrian Ambassador's, when a stranger offered poor Bonnemain twenty thousand francs t

aid Ansell, as he proceeded to divide the bank-notes, plac

t comes to a division of the spoils, but Ansell claimed a d

ding argument of no avail, he shrugged his shoulders and accepted the inevit

e-eh?" asked A

as "The Eel" thrust a thousand pound

ould never have brought off such a coup. Now this stuff," he added, indic

companion. "But half sh

ther, and both lifted the tumblers of wine

I feel," excla

Then we'll go out and wire to that old scoundrel, Levy," urged An

the my hand first.

m," said the other,

n a nail, and, unwrapping his injured hand, enter

his host, whose face, at the moment,

cket pocket, and it came int

embered that the man in the room beyond had

his breath. "What business is it

ed suddenly, and the old woman from below, who acted as concierg

missary is asking for you. Quick! Get away, or you'll be caught

closing the door after her, while the wa