Morrison could do no more than stare. Bellamy, on the contrary, with a little bow came further into the apartment, removing his hat from his head. Lassen glided round behind him, remaining between Bellamy and the heavy curtains. Adolf Kahn moved as though unconsciously in front of the door of the room in which they were.
Bellamy smiled courteously.
"I am afraid," he said, "that I must not stay for more than a moment. I have a car full of friends below--we are on our way, in fact, to the Covent Garden Ball--and one or two of them, I fear," he added indulgently, "have already reached that stage of exhilaration which such an entertainment in England seems to demand. They will certainly come and rout me out if I am here much longer. There!" he exclaimed, "you hear that?"
There was the sound of a motor horn from the street below. Streuss, with an oath trembling upon his lips, lifted the blind. There were two motor-cars waiting there--large cars with Limousine bodies, and apparently full of men. After all, it was to be expected. Bellamy was no fool!
"Since we are to lose you, then Mr. Laverick," Streuss remarked with a gesture of farewell, "let us say good night. The little matter of business which we were discussing can be concluded with your partner."
Laverick turned toward Zoe. Their eyes met and he read their message of terror.
"You are coming back to your own rooms, Miss Leneveu," he said. "You must let me offer you my escort."
She half rose, but in obedience to a gesture from Streuss Morrison moved near to them.
"If you leave me here, Laverick," he muttered beneath his breath,--"if you leave me to these hounds, do you know what they will do? They will hand me over to the police--they have sworn it!"
"Why did you come back?" Laverick asked quickly.
"They stopped me as I was boarding the steamer," Morrison declared. "I tell you they have eyes everywhere. You cannot move without their knowledge. I had to come. Now that I am here they have told me plainly the price of my freedom. It is that document. Laverick, it is my life! You must give in--you must, indeed! Remember you're in it, too."
"Am I?" Laverick asked quietly.
"You fool, of course you are!" Morrison whispered hoarsely. "Didn't you come into the entry and take the pocket-book? Heaven knows what possessed you to do it! Heaven knows how you found the pluck to use the money! But you did it, and you are a criminal--a criminal as I am. Don't be a fool, Laverick. Make terms with these people. They want the document--the document--nothing but the document! They will let us keep the money."