Ten
thousand in a night!"--jovially.
"A _very_ tidy sum, sir," said William.
"A fourth of which goes to you, my good and faithful friend."
"Thank you, sir," replied William.
Two cooler rogues I never wish to meet!
"But wouldn't it be well, sir, to hasten?" asked William.
"We have plenty of time now, my son."
"You have not entered this room," said the girl, her terror slipping
from her, "simply to offer these banalities. What do you wish?"
"What perspicacity, William!" cried the rogue, taking out a cigarette
case.
"I don't know what that word means, sir, but as you do, it seems to fit
the occasion proper enough."
"It means, William, that this charming young lady scents our visit from
afar."
"I had a suspicion, sir, that it might mean that." William leaned
against the wall, his beady eyes twinkling merrily.
The master rogue lighted a cigarette at one of the candles.
"Pardon me," he said, "but will you join me?"--proffering the handsome
gold case.
I took a cigarette and fired it. (I really wanted it.) I would show
up well before this girl if I died for it. I blew a cloud of smoke at
the candle-flame. There _was_ a sparkle of admiration in the girl's
eyes.
"Mr. Comstalk, my respect for you increases each moment.
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