The rogue laughed lightly. "I know Mr. Haggerty's habits. He is
hustling back to New York as fast as he can. He passed here ten
minutes ago in the patrol, lickety-clip! He wishes to warn all
pawnbrokers and jewelers to be on the lookout for me to-morrow. 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." The rogue
sat down.
"And to whom might this handsome case belong?" I asked, examining it
closely.
"Oh, that has always been mine. There was a time,"--blowing rings at
the candelabrum,--"when I was respected like yourself, rich, sought
after. A woman and a trusted friend: how these often tumble down our
beautiful edifices! Yes, I am a scamp, a thief, a rogue; but not
because I need the money. No,"--with retrospective eyes--"I need
excitement, tremendous and continuous,--excitement to keep my vigilance
and invention active day and night, excitement to obliterate memory.
"But we can't do it, my friend, we can't do it. Memory is always with
us. She is an impartial Nemesis; she dogs the steps of the righteous
and the unrighteous. To obliterate memory, that is it! And where
might I find this obliteration, save in this life? Drugs? Pah! Oh, I
have given Haggerty a royal chase. It has been meat and drink to me to
fool the cleverest policeman in New York. Till yesterday my face, as a
criminal, was unknown to any man or woman, save William here, who was
my valet in the old days. I have gone to my clubs, dined, played
billiards; a fine comedy, a fine comedy! To-morrow William and I sail
for Europe. Miss Hawthorne, you wear one of the most exquisite rubies
I have ever seen. Permit me to examine it."