Henry C. Rowland

“ It is better to be dishonest to the world, I think, than untrue to yourself. That is why I am so sure of you; because, whatever you may have done, I know that you have always been right with yourself. ”

“ A professional thief would be ashamed to associate with that sort. He steals because he wants to, not because he can't help it. What I dwelt upon to Edith was the harm that might come to her husband and herself from receiving me into their household—and I put this even stronger than Léontine had done. ”

“ You went to dine at the Billings' last night and wore your pearls. Who and what are the Billings?”
“They are rich Americans who have come over here to educate their daughters. They live on the Avenue de Bois.”
“Are they aristocratic people?” I asked.
The two women exchanged glances.
“Hardly that,” answered Miss Dalghren, hesitatingly, “Mr. Billings is rather a common man who has made a big fortune in ready-made clothes, or something of the sort. His wife is ordinary, but kind and well meaning. She is very ambitious socially.” ”

“ His back was turned to us, but my acquaintance had recognised him also and said to me:
“There is your patron, M. Clamart. You will have to sell a good many cars to pay for his game of last night.”
“Really?” I answered carelessly. “Was it as bad as that?”
“I heard that his losses were about forty thousand francs,” said he.
I shrugged. “M. Cuttynge told me that he had been unlucky,” I said; “but he spoke of his losses as trifling.”
“I myself saw him lose thirty thousand,” says my friend; “but these Americans and Russians do not think much of a sum like that. Kharkoff was the heavy winner. ”

“ They also know that your wife has fine jewels. Somebody has sized up the proposition for an easy one, knowing that you could hardly go to the police. Also, the thief counts on your suspecting me. Do you?”
John looked away. “Oh no—not a bit,'” he answered, hesitating a trifle.
“I'm glad of that,” said I; and added: “was Kharkoff playing last night, as usual?”
“Yes,” growled John, “worse luck.”
“You lost?”
He gave me a quick look, then grunted: “Oh, a trifle.”
Neither of us spoke until we reached the house, where we found Edith and Miss Dalghren on the terrace. ”

“ Now I will say au 'voir, as there is no time to lose if I want to get the pearls.”
So I went out and jumped into the little car and started back up town alone. The whole business was pretty plain to me, but there were a few details I wanted to study out. Ivan, as you may remember, was the man who had given me the job of stealing Edith's jewels. He was the chief executive of the Paris mob of thieves, some of whom I had met that night at Léontine's house in Passy. Ivan never did any of the active work. ”

“ Give this crook lady to understand that she's got to leave you alone, then find yourself diggings up near the office and pitch into our motor business. There's a lot to be done in the way of introducing the car—advertising and all that. ”