“Yes；hehadinvitedmuch——heandshetogether——theTocsinandhimself。He，JimmieDale，millionaire，clubman，whosenameforgenerationsinNewYorkhadbeenthefamilypride，was“wanted“astheGraySealforsomany“crimes“thathehadlosttrackofthemhimself——butfromanyoneofwhich，lettheidentityoftheGraySealbeoncesolved，therewasandcouldbenoescape！Whatexquisiteirony——yetfull，too，ofthemostdeadlyconsequences！
OncemoreJimmieDale”seyessoughtthepaper，andthistimescannedtheheadlinesofthefirstpage：
BRUTALMURDEROFMILLPAYMASTER。
THECRIMEWAVESTILLATITSHEIGHT。
HERMANROESSLEFOUNDDEADNEARHISCAR。
ASSASSINSESCAPEWITH$20，000。
JimmieDalereadon——andashereadtherecameagainthatangrysettohislips。Thedetailswerenotpleasant。HermanRoessle，thepaymasteroftheMartindale-KensingtonMills，whoseplantwasontheHudson，hadgonethatmorninginhisrunabouttothenearesttown，threemilesaway，forthemonthlypayroll；hadsecuredthemoneyfromthebank，asumoftwenty-oddthousanddollars；andhadstartedbackwithitforthemill。Atfirst，itbeingbroaddaylightandawell-frequentedroad，hisnonappearancecausednoapprehension；butasearlyafternooncameandtherewasstillnosignofRoesslethemillmanagementtookalarm。Discoveringthathehadleftthebankforthereturnjourneyatafewminutesbeforeeleven，andthatnothinghadbeenseenofhimathishome，thepolicewerenotified。
Followedthenseveralhoursoffruitlesssearch，untilfinally，withthewholecountrysidearousedandtheeffortsofthepoliceaugumentedbyprivatesearchparties，thecarwasfoundinathicketattheedgeofacrossroadsomefourmilesbackfromtheriver，and，alittlewayfromthecar，thebodyofRoessle，dead，theman”sheadcrushedinwhereithadbeenfiendishlybatteredbysomeblunt，heavyobject。Therewasnoclew——noonecouldbefoundwhohadseenthecaronthecrossroad——themurderer，ormurderers，andthetwenty-oddthousanddollarsincashhaddisappearedleavingnotracebehind。
Therewereseveralcolumnsofthis，whichJimmieDaleskimmedthroughquickly；butattheendhestaredforalongtimeatthelastparagraph。Somehow，strange，torelate，thepaperhadneglectedtoturnits“sob“artistloose，andthefewwords，addedalmostasthoughtheywereanafterthought，foroncerangtrueandfullofpathosintheirverysimplicity——attheRoesslehome，whereMrs。Roesslewasprostrated，twolittletotsoffiveandseven，tooyoungtounderstand，hadgravelyreceivedthereporterandtoldhimthatsomebadmanhadhurttheirdaddy。
“Mr。Dale，sir！“
JimmieDaleloweredhispaper。Aclubattendantwasstandingbeforehim，respectfullyextendingasilvercardtray。Fromtheman，JimmieDale”seyesfixedonawhiteenvelopeonthetray。Oneglancewasenough——itwasHERS，thatletter。TheTocsinagain！Hisbrainseemedsuddenlytobeafire，andhecouldfeelhispulsequicken，thebloodbegintopoundinfiercethrobsathisheart。
Lifeanddeathlayinthatwhite，innocent-looking，unaddressedenvelope，danger，peril——itwasalwayslifeanddeath，forthosewerethestakesforwhichtheTocsinplayed。But，masterofmanythings，JimmieDalewasmostofallmasterofhimself。Notamuscleofhisfacemoved。Hereachednonchalantlyfortheletter。
“Thankyou，“saidJimmieDale。
Themanbowedandstartedaway。JimmieDalelaidtheenvelopeonthearmoftheloungingchair。ThemanhadreachedthedoorwhenJimmieDalestoppedhim。
“Oh，bytheway，“saidJimmieDalelanguidly，“wheredidthiscomefrom？“
“Yourchauffeur，sir，“repliedtheother。“Yourchauffeurgaveittothehallporteramomentago，sir。”
“Thankyou，“saidJimmieDaleagain。
Thedoorclosed。
JimmieDaleglancedaroundtheroom。Itwasthecautionofhabit，thatglance；thehabitofyearsinwhichhislifehadhungonlittlethings。Hewasaloneinoneoftheclub”sprivatelibraryrooms。
Hepickeduptheenvelope，toreitopen，tookoutthefoldedsheetsinside，andbegantoread。Atthefirstwordsheleanedforward，suddenlytenseinhischair。Hereadon，turningthepageshurriedly，incredulity，amazement，and，finally，astrangemenacemirroringitselfinturnuponhisface。
Hestoodup——theletterinhishand。
“MyGod！“whisperedJimmieDale。
ItwasacalltoarmssuchastheGraySealhadneverreceivedbefore——suchastheTocsinhadnevermadebefore。Andifitweretrueit——True！Helaughedaloudalittlegratingly。True！HadtheTocsin，astounding，unbelievable，mystifyingaswerethemeansbywhichsheacquiredherknowledgenotonlyofthis，butofcountlessotheraffairs，everbysomuchasthesmallestdetailbeenastray。Ifitweretrue！
Hepulledouthiswatch。Itwashalf-pastnine。Benson，hischauffeur，hadsenttheletterintotheclub。Bensonhadbeenwaitingoutsidethereeversincedinner。JimmieDale，forthefirsttimesincethefirstcommunicationthathehadeverreceivedfromtheTocsin，didnotimmediatelydestroyherletternow。Heslippeditintohispocket——andsteppedquicklyfromtheroom。
Inthecloakroomdownstairshesecuredhishatandovercoat，and，thoughitwasawarmevening，putonthelattersincehewasineveningclothes，thenwalkedleisurelyoutoftheclub。
Atthecurb，Benson，thechauffeur，sprangfromhisseat，and，touchinghiscap，openedthedoorofaluxuriouslimousine。
JimmieDaleshookhishead。
“Ishallnotkeepyouwaitinganylonger，Benson，“hesaid。“Youmaytakethecarhome，andputitup。Ishallprobablybelateto-
night。”
“Verygood，sir，“repliedthechauffeur。
“Yousentinaletteramomentorsoago，Benson？“observedJimmieDalecasually，openinghiscigarettecase。
“Yes，sir，“saidBenson。“IhopeIdidn”tdowrong，sir。Hesaiditwasimportant，andthatyouweretohaveitatonce。”
“He？“JimmieDalewaslightinghiscigarettenow。
“Aboy，sir，“Bensonamplified。“Icouldn”tgetanythingoutofhim。Hejustsaidhe”dbeentoldtogiveittome，andtellmetoseethatyougotitatonce。Ihope，sir，Ihaven”t”
“Notatall，Benson，“saidJimmieDalepleasantly。“It”squiteallright。Good-night，Benson。”
“Good-night，sir，“Bensonanswered，climbingbacktohisseat。
TherewasaqueerlittlesmileonJimmieDale”slips，ashewatchedthegreatcarswingaroundinthestreetandglidenoiselesslyaway——
aqueerlittlesmilethatstillheldthereevenafterhehimselfhadstartedbrisklyalongtheavenueinadowntowndirection。Itwasinvariablythesame，alwaysthesame——theletterscameunexpectedly，whenleastlookedfor，nowbythismeans，nowbythat，butalwaysinamannerthatprecludedtheslightestpossibilityoftracingthemtotheirsource。Wasthereanything，inhisintimatesurroundings，inhisintimatelife，thatshedidnotknowabouthim——
whoknewabsolutelynothingabouther！Benson，forinstance——thatthemanwasabsolutelytrustworthy——orelseshewouldneverforaninstanthaveriskedtheletterinhispossession。Wasthereanythingthatshedidnot——yes，onething——shedidnotknowhimintherolehewasgoingtoplayto-night。Thatatleastwasonethingthatsurelyshedidnotknowabouthim；theroleinwhich，manytimes，forweeksonend，hehaddevotedhimselfbodyandsoulinanattempttosolvethemysterywithwhichshesurroundedherself；therole，too，thatoftenenoughhadbeenabulwarkofsafetytohimwhenhardpressedbythepolice；theroleoutofwhichhehadsocarefully，sopainstakinglycreatedanowrecognisedandwell-knowncharacteroftheunderworld——theroleofLarrytheBat。
JimmieDaleturnedfromFifthAvenueintoBroadway，continuedondownBroadway，acrosstotheBowery，keptalongtheBoweryforseveralmoreblocka——andfinallyheadedeastintothedimlylightedcrossstreetonwhichtheSanctuarywaslocated。
AndnowJimmieDalebecamecautiousinhismovements。Asheapproachedtheblackalleywaythatflankedthemiserabletenement，heglancedsharplybehindandabouthim；and，atthealleywayitself，withoutpause，butwithacuriouslightning-likesidestep，nolongerJimmieDalenow，buttheGraySeal，hedisappearedfromthestreet，andwaslostinthedeepshadowsofthebuilding。
Inamomenthewasatthesidedoor，listeningforanysoundfromwithin——nonehadeverseenormetthelodgerorthefirstflooreitherascendingordescending，exceptinthefamiliarcharacterofLarrytheBat。Heopenedthedoor，closeditbehindhim，andintheutterblacknesswentnoiselesslyupthestairs——stairssoricketythatitseemedamouse”streadalonewouldhavesetthemcreaking。
ThereseemedanartintheplayofJimmieDale”severymuscle；inthemovements，lithe，balanced，quick，absolutelysilent。Onthefirstlandinghestoppedbeforeanotherdoor，therewasthefaintclickofakeyturninginthelock；andthenthisdoor，too，closedbehindhim。Soundedthefaintclickofthekeyasitturnedagain，andJimmieDaledrewalongbreath，steppedacrosstheroomtoassurehimselfthatthewindowblindwasdown，andlightedthegasjet。
Ayellow，murkyflamespurtedup，pitifullyweak，almostasthoughitwereashamedofitsdisreputablesurroundings。Dirt，disorder，squalour，theevidenceoflowlivingtestifiedeloquentlyenoughtoanyone，thepolice，forinstance，intimespastinquisitiveuntiltheywerefatuouslycontentwiththebeliefthattheyknewtheoccupantforwhathewas，thattheplacewasquiteinkeepingwithitstenant，amuteprototype，asitwere，ofLarrytheBat，thedopefiend。
Foralittlespace，JimmieDale，immaculateinhiseveningclothes，stoodinthecentreofthemiserableroom，hisdarkeyes，keen，alert，critical，sweepingcomprehensivelyovereveryobjectabouthim——thepositionofachair，ofacrackeddrinkingglassonthebroken-leggedtable，ofanoldcoatthrownwithapparentcarelessnessontheflooratthefootofthebed，ofabrokenbottlethathadinnocentlystrewnsomesortofwhitepowderclosetothethreshold，invitingunwaryfoottracksacrossthefloor。Andthen，takingouttheTocsin”sletter，helaidituponthetable，placedwhatmoneyhehadinhispocketsbesideit，andbeganrapidlytoremovehisclothes。TheSanctuaryhadnotbeeninvadedsincehislastvisitthere。
Heturnedbacktheoilclothinthefarcorneroftheroom，tookupthepieceoflooseflooring，which，however，strangelyenough，fittedsocloselyastogivenosignofitsexistenceevenshoulditinadvertently，bysomecuriousvisitoragainbetrodupon；andfromtheaperturebeneathliftedoutabundleofclothesandasmallbox。
Undressednow，hecarefullyfoldedtheclotheshehadtakenoff，laidthemundertheflooring，andbegantodressagain，hiswardrobesuppliedbythebundlehehadtakenoutinexchange——anoldpairofshoes，thelacesbroken；mismatedsocks；patchedtrousers，frayedatthebottoms；asoiledshirt，collarless，openattheneck。Attiredtohissatisfaction，heplacedtheboxuponthetable，proppedupacrackedmirror，satdowninfrontofit，and，withadeft，artist”stouch，begantoapplystaintohishands，wrists，neck，throat，andface——butthehardness，thegrimmenacethatnowgrewintothedominantcharacteristicofhisfeatureswasnotduetothestainalone。
“DearPhilanthropicCrook“——hiseyeswereontheTocsin”sletterthatlaybeforehim。Hereadon——foronce，eventoJimmieDale”skeen，facilemind，afirstreadinghadfailedtoconveythefullsignificanceofwhatshehadwritten。Itwastooamazing，almostbeyondbelief——theseriesofcrimes，rampantforthepastfewweeks，atwhichthecommunityhadstoodaghast，thebrutalmurderofRoesslebutafewhoursold，laybarebeforehiseyes。Itwasallthere，allofit，thedetails，thehellishcleverness，thepersonnelevenofthethugs，all，everything——excepttheproof。
“Gethim，Jimmie——themanhigherup。Gethim，Jimmie——beforeanotherpaysforfeitwithhislife“——thewordsseemedtoleapoutathimfromthewhitepageinred，dancinglines”Gethim——Jimmie——themanhigherup。”
JimmieDalefinishedthesecondreadingoftheletter，readitagainforthethirdtime，thentoreitintotinyfragments。Hisfingersdelvedintotheboxagain，andthetransformationofJimmieDale，memberofNewYork”smostexclusivesocialset，intoalow，vicious-
featureddenizenoftheunderworldwenton——alittlewaxappliedskilfullybehindtheears，inthenostrilsandundertheupperlip。
Itwasallthere——allexcepttheproof。Andtheproof——helaughedaloudsuddenly，unpleasantly。Thereseemedsomethingsardonicinit；ay，morethanthat，allthatwasgriminirony。Theproof，inStangeist”sownwriting，sworntobeforewitnessesinthepresenceofanotary，thetextofthedocument，ofcourse，unknowntobothwitnessesandnotary，evidence，absoluteandfinal，thatwouldbeadmittedinanycourt，forStangeistwasalawyer，andwouldseetothat，wasinStangeist”sownsafe，forStangeist”sownprotection——
Stangeist，whowashimselftheheadandbrainsofthismurdergang——
Stangeist，whowasthemanhigherup！
Itwasamazing，withoutparallelinthehistoryofcrime——andyetingenious，clever，fullofthecraftandcunningthathadbuiltuptheshysterlawyer”sreputationbelowthedeadline。
JimmieDale”slipswerecuriouslythinnow。SoitwasStangeist！A
DoctorJekyllandMr。Hydewithavengeance！HeknewStangeist——notpersonally；notbythereputationStangeistheld，lowevenasthatwas，amonghisbrothermembersoftheprofession；butasthemanwasknownforwhathereallywasamongthecrooksandcriminalsoftheunderworld，where，inthatstrangeundergroundexchange，whisperedconfidencespassedbetweenthosewhosecommonenemywasthelaw，whereLarrytheBathimselfwastrustedintheinnermostcircles。
StangeistwasapowerintheBadLands。TherewerefewamongthatunholycommunitythatStangeist，atonetimeoranother，inonewayoranother，hadnotrescuedfromtheclutchesofthelaw，resortingtoanytrickorcunning，butwithperjury，thathecouldhandlelikethemasterofitthathewas，employedasthemostcommonweaponofdefenceforhisclients——providedhewerepaidwellenoughforit。
Themanhadbecomemorethantheattorneyforthecrimeworld——hehadbecomepartofit。Cunning，shrewd，crafty，conscienceless，cold-blooded——thatwasStangeist。
TheformandfeaturesofthemanpicturedthemselvesinJimmieDale”smind——thesix-footmuscularframe，thatwasinvariablyclothedinattireofthemostfashionablecut；thethinlipswiththeiroily，plausiblesmile，thestraightblackhairthatstraggledintopinpoint，littleblackeyes，thedarkfacewithitshighcheekbones，which，withthepronouncedaquilinenoseandthepersistentrumourthathewasaquartercaste，hadledtheunderworld，prejudicedalwaysinfavourofa“monaker，“todubthemanthe“IndianChief。”
JimmieDalelaughedagain——stillunpleasantly。SoStangeisthadtakentheplungeatlastandbranchedoutintoawiderfield，hadhe？Well，therewasnothingsurprisinginthat——exceptthathehadnotdoneitbefore！TheironyofitlayinthefactthatatlasthehadbeenTOOclever，oversteppedhimselfinhisowncleverness，thatwasall。ItwasAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeanethatStangeisthadgatheredaroundhim，theTocsinhadsaid——andtherewerenoneworseinLarrytheBat”swiderangeofacquaintanceshipthanthosethree。StangeisthadmadehimselfmasterofAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeane——andhehaddriventhemalittletoohardonthedivisionofthespoils——andlaughedatthem，andcrackedthewhipmuchafterthefashionthatthetrainerinthecagehandlesthegrowlingbeastsaroundhim。
AdozenofthecrimesthathadappalledandstaggeredNewYorktheyhadcommittedunderhisleadership；andthen，itseemed，theyhadquarrelledfuriously，thethreepittedagainstStangeist，threateninghim，demandingamoreequitableshareoftheproceeds。
NonewasbetterawarethanStangeistthatthreatsfrommenoftheircalibrewerelikelytoresultinagrimaftermath——andStangeist，yesterday，theTocsinsaid，hadansweredthemasnoothermanthanStangeistwouldeitherhavethoughtoforhavedaredtodo。Onebyone，atseparatetimes，coveringtheotherwitharevolver，Stangeisthadpermittedthemtoreadadocumentthatwasaddressedtothedistrictattorney。Itwasaconfession，completeineverydetail，ofeverycrimethefourtogetherhadcommitted，implicatingStangeistasfullyandunreservedlyasitdidtheotherthree。Itrequirednocommentary！IfanythinghappenedtoStangeist，astabinthedark，forinstance，abulletfromsomedarkalleyway，ablackjackdeftlywielded，asonlyAustralianIke，TheMopeorClarieDeaneknewhowtowieldit——thedocumentautomaticallybecameaDEATHSENTENCEforAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeane！
Itwasverysimple——and，evidently，ithadbeeneffective，aswitnesstherenewaloftheiroperationsinthemurderofRoesslethatafternoon。Fearandavaricehadbothprobablyplayedtheirpart；fearofthemanwhowouldwithsuchconsummatenerveflinghislifeintothebalancetoturnthetablesuponthem，whilehejeeredatthem；avaricethatpromptedthemtogetwhattheycouldoutofStangeist”sbrainsandleadership，andtobesatisfiedwithwhattheyCOULDget——sincetheycouldgetnomore！
Satisfied？JimmieDaleshookhishead。No；thatwashardlytheword——cowed，perhaps，forthemoment，wouldbebetter。Butafterward，withadocumentlikethatinexistence，whentheywouldneverbesafeforaninstant——well，beastsinthecageshadbeenknowntogetthebetterofthemanwiththewhip，andbeastsweregentlethingscomparedwithAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeane！SomedaytheywouldreversethetablesontheIndianChief——
iftheycould。Andiftheycouldn”titwouldnotbeforthelackoftrying。
TherewouldbeanotheractinthatdramaoftheHouseDividedbeforethecurtainfell！Andtherewouldbeasortofgrim，poeticjusticeinit，atemptationalmosttolettheplayworkitselfouttoitsowninevitableconclusion，only——JimmieDale，thefinaltouchesgiventohisfeatures，stoodup，andhishandsclenchedsuddenly，fiercely——itwasnotjustthemanhigherupalone，thereweretheotherthreeaswell，thewholefourofthem，allofthem，crimeswithoutnumberattheirdoor，brutal，fiendishacts，damnableoutrages，murdertoanswerfor，withwhichthepublicnowwasbeginningtoconnectthenameoftheGraySeal！TheGraySeal！
JimmieDale”shands，whosedelicatefingerswereartfullygrimedandblackenednowbeneaththenails，clenchedstilltighter——andthen，withaquickshrugofhisshoulders，athinningofthefirmlycompressedlips，hepickedupthecoatfromwhereitlayuponthefloor，putiton，putthemoneythatwasonthetableinhispocket，andreplacedtheboxundertheflooring。
Inquicksuccession，fromthesamehidingplace，anautomatic，ablacksilkmask，anelectricflashlight，thatthinmetalboxlikeacigarettecase，andahalfdozenvicious-lookinglittleblued-steelburglar”stoolswerestowedawayinhispockets，theflooringcarefullyreplaced，theoilclothspreadbackagain；andthen，pullingaslouchhatwelldownoverhiseyes，hereacheduptoturnoffthegas。
Foraninstanthishandheldthere，whilehiseyes，sweepingaroundtheapartment，tookineverysingledetailabouthiminthatsamealert，comprehensivewayaswhenhehadentered——thentheroomwasindarkness，andtheGraySeal，asLarrytheBat，ashuffling，unkemptcreatureoftheunderworld，aliasJimmieDale，thelionisedofclubs，thematrimonialtargetofexclusivedrawing-rooms，closedthedooroftheSanctuarybehindhim，shuffleddownthestairs，shuffledoutintothelane，andshuffledalongthestreettowardtheBowery。
Apolicemanonthecorneraccostedhimfamiliarly。
“Hello，Larry！“grinnedtheofficer。
“”Ello！“returnedJimmieDaleaffablythroughthesideofhismouth。
“Finenight，ain”tit？“——andshuffledonalongthestreet。
AndnowJimmieDalebegantohurry——stillwiththatshufflingtread，butcoveringthegroundneverthelesswithamazingcelerity。HehadlostnotimesincereceivingtheTocsin”sletter，itwastrue，but，forallthat，itwasnowafterteno”clock。Stangeist”shousewas“dark“thatevening，shehadsaid，meaningthattheoccupants，Stangeistaswellaswhateverservantstheremightbe，forStangeisthadnofamily，wereout——theservantsintownforatheatreorpictureshowprobably——andStangeisthimselfasyetnotback，presumablyfromthatRoessleaffair。Thestubofanoldcigar，unlighted，shiftedwithasudden，savagetwistofthelipsfromonesideofJimmieDale”smouthtotheother。Therewasneedforhaste。
TherewasnotellingwhenStangeistmightgetback——asfortheservants，thatdidnotmattersomuch；servantsinsuburbanhomeshadamarkedaffinityfor“lasttrains！“
JimmieDaleboardedacross-towncar，effectedatransfer，andinaquarterofanhourafterleavingtheSanctuarywashuddled，aninoffensiveheap，likeatired-outworkingman，inacornerseatofaLongIslandtrain。Fromhere，therewasonlyashortrunaheadofhim，and，twentyminuteslater，descendingfromthetrainatForestHills，hehadpassedthroughthemorethicklysettledportionofthelittleplace，andwaswalkingbrisklyoutalongthecountryroad。
Stangeist”shouselay，approximately，amileandahalffromthestation，quitebyitself，andsetwellbackfromtheroad。JimmieDalecouldhavefounditwithhiseyesblindfolded——theTocsin”sdirectionshadlackednoneoftheirusualexplicitminuteness。Theroadwasquitedeserted。JimmieDalemetnoone。Eveninthehousesthathepassedthelightswereinnearlyeveryinstancealreadyout。
Something，mercilessinitsrage，sweptsuddenlyoverJimmieDale，as，unbidden，ofitsownvolition，thelastparagraphhehadreadinthatevening”spaperbegantorepeatitselfoverandoveragaininhismind。Thetwolittlekiddies——itseemedasthoughhecouldseethemstandingthere——andfromJimmieDale”slips，notgiventoprofanity，therecameabitteroath。Itmightpossiblybethat，evenifheweresuccessfulinwhatwasbeforehimto-night，theauthorsoftheRoesslemurderwouldneverbeknown。ThatconfessionofStangeist”swaswrittenpriortowhathadhappenedthatafternoon，andtherewouldbenomention，naturally，ofRoessle。
And，foramoment，thatseemedtoJimmieDaletheonethingparamounttoallothers，theonethingthatwasvital；thenheshookhishead，andlaughedoutshortly。Afterall，itdidnotmatter——
whetherStangeistandthebloodwolveshehadgatheredaroundhimpaidthepenaltyspecificallyforoneparticularcrimeorforanothercouldmakelittledifference——theywouldPAY，justassurely，justascertainly，oncethatpaperwasinhispossession！
JimmieDalewascountingthehousesashepassed——theyweremoreinfrequentnow，fartherapart。Stangeistwasnofool——notthefoolthathewouldappeartobeforkeepingadocumentlikethat，oncehehadhadthetemeritytoexecuteit，inhisownsafe；for，inadayortwo，theTocsinhadhintedatthis，afterholdingitovertheheadsofAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeaneagaintodrivetheforceofitalittledeeperhome，hewouldundoubtedlydestroyit——andtheSUPPOSITIONthatitwasstillinexistencewouldhaveequallythesameeffectonthemindsoftheotherthree！Stangeistwascertainlyalivetotheperilthatheranwithsuchathinginhispossession，onlytheperilhadnotappealedtohimasimminenteitherfromthethreethugswithwhomhehadalliedhimself，or，muchless，fromanyoneelse，thatwasall。
JimmieDalehaltedbyalow，ornamentalstonefence，somethreefeethigh，andstoodthereforamoment，glancingabouthim。ThiswasStangeist”shouse——hecouldjustmakeoutthebuildingasitloomedupashadowy，irregularshape，perhapstwohundredyardsbackfromthefence。Thehousewasquitedark，notalightshowedinanywindow。JimmieDalesatdowncasuallyonthefence，lookedcarefullyagainupanddowntheroad——then，swinginghislegsover，quicknowineveryaction，hedroppedtotheotherside，andstolesilentlyacrossthegrasstotherearofthehouse。
Herehestoppedagain，reacheduptoawindowthatwasaboutonalevelwithhisshoulders，andtesteditsfastenings。Thewindow——itwasthewindowofStangeist”sprivatesanctum，accordingtotheplaninherletter——wassecurelylocked。JimmieDale”shandswentintohispocket——andtheblacksilkmaskwasslippedoverhisface。Helistenedintently——thenalittlesteelinstrumentbegantognawlikearat。
Aminutepassed——twoofthem。AgainJimmieDalelistened。Therewasnotasoundsavethenightsounds——thelightbreezewhisperingthroughthebranchesofthetrees；thefar-offrumbleofatrain；
thewhirofinsects；thehoarsecroakingofafrogfromsomenear-bycreekorpond。Thewindowsashwasraisedaninch，another，andgraduallytothetop。Likeashadow，JimmieDalepulledhimselfuptothesill，and，poisedthere，hishandpartedtheheavyportieresthathungwithin。Itwastoodarktodistinguishevenasingleobjectintheroom。Heloweredhimselftothefloor，andslippedcautiouslybetweentheportieres。
Fromsomewhereinthehouse，aclockbegantostrike。JimmieDalecountedthestrokes。Eleveno”clock。Itwasgettinglate——TOO
late！Stangeistwaslikelytobebackatanymoment。Theflashlight，inJimmieDale”shandnow，circledtheroomwithitslittleroundwhiteray，lingeringaninstantinaqueer，inquisitivesortofwayhereandthereonthisobjectandthat——andwentout。
JimmieDalenodded——theflatdeskinthecentreofthefloor，thesafeinthecornerbytherearwall，thepositionofeverythingintheroom，eventothechairs，wasphotographedonhismind。
Hesteppedfromtheportierestothesafe，andtheflashlightplayedagain——thistimereflectingbackfromtheglisteningnickelledknobs。JimmieDale”slipstightened。Itwasasmallsafe，almostludicrouslysmall；buttosuchheightastheartofsafedesignhadbeencarried，thatdesignwasembodiedintheonebeforehim。
“TypeK-four-two-eight-Colby，“mutteredJimmieDale。“Anastylittlebeggar——andit”seleveno”clocknow！I”duse”soup”foronce，ifitweren”tthatitwouldputStangeistwise，andgivehimachancetomakehisget-awaybeforethedistrictattorneygotthenippersonthefourofthem。”
Thelightwentout。JimmieDaledroppedtohisknees；and，whilehislefthandpassedswiftly，tentativelyoverdialsandhandle，herubbedthefingersofhisrighthandrapidlytoandfrooverthecarpet。WonderfulfingertipswerethoseofJimmieDale，sensitivetoanabnormaldegree；andnow，tinglingwiththefriction，thenervesthrobbingattheskinsurface，theyclosedinalight，delicatetouchupontheknobofthedial——andJimmieDale”searpressedcloseagainstthefaceofthesafe。
Timepassed。Thesilencegrewheavy——seemedtopalpitatethroughtheroom。Thenadeepbreath，halflikeasigh，halflikeaflutteringsobasofastrongmantaxedtotheuttermostofhisendurance，camefromJimmieDale，andhislefthandsweptawaythesweatbeadsthathadspurtedtohisforehead。
“Eight——thirteen——twenty-two，“whisperedJimmieDale。
Therewasaclick，alowmetallicthudastheboltsslidback，andthedoorswungopen。
Andnowtheflashlightagain，searchingthemechanismoftheinnerdoor——thendarknessoncemore。
Fiveminutes，tenminuteswentby。Theclockstruckagain——andthesinglestrokeseemedtoboomoutthroughthehouseinaweird，raucous，threateningnote，andseemedtolinger，throbbingintheair。
Theinnerdoorwasopen——theflashlight”sraywasfloodinganestofpigeonholesandlittledrawers。Thepigeonholeswerecrammedwithpapers，as，presumably，too，werethedrawers。JimmieDalesuckedinhisbreath。Hehadalreadybeentherewelloverhalfanhour——
everyminutenow，everysecondwascountingagainsthim，andtosearchthatmassofpapersbeforeStangeistreturnedwas——
“Ah！“——itcameinafiercelittleejaculationfromJimmieDale。
Fromthecentrepigeonhole，almostthefirstpaperhehadtouched，hedrewalong，sealedenvelopeandatasingleswiftglancehadreadtheinscriptionuponit，writteninlonghand：
TOTHEDISTRICTATTORNEY，NEWYORKCITY。
IMPORTANT。URGENT。
Thewordsinthecornerswereunderscoredthreetimes。
Swiftly，deftly，JimmieDale”shandsrolledtheroundedendofoneofhiscollectionofthelegalinstrumentsundertheflapoftheenvelope，turnedthesheetsoveranddrewoutthefoldeddocumentinside。Therewereeightsheetsoflegalfoolscap，neatlyfastenedtogetheratthetopleft-handcornerwithgreentape。Heopenedthemout，readafewwordshereandthere，andturnedthepageshurriedlyovertoscrutinisethelastone——andnoddedgrimly。ThreewitnesseshadtestifiedtothesignatureofStangeist，andanotary”sseal，accompaniedbytheusuallegalformula，wasdulyaffixed。
JimmieDaleslippedthedocumentintohispocket，and，withtheenvelopeinhishand，movedtothedesk。Heopenedfirstonedrawerandthenanother，andfinallydiscoveringapileofblankfoolscap，tookoutfoursheets，foldedthem，andplacedthemintheenvelope，sealingtheflapofthelatteragain。ThatitdidnotsealverywellnowbroughtaquizzicaltwitchtoJimmieDale”slips。Sealedorunsealed，perhaps，itmadelittledifference；but，forallthat，hewasnotthroughwithityet。Apartfrombringingthefourtojustice，therewas，afterall，achancetovindicatetheGraySealinthismatteratleast，andrepudiatethenewspapertheorywhichthepublic，towhomtheGraySealwasalreadyamonsterofiniquity，wouldseizeuponwithavidity。
Therewasnofurtherneedoflightnow。JimmieDalereplacedtheflashlightinhispocket，tookoutthethin，metalcase，openedit，andwiththetinypairoftweezersthatlikewisenestledthere，liftedoutoneofthegray，diamond-shapedpaperseals。Therewasnoquestionbutthat，onceunderarrest，Stangeist”seffectswouldbeimmediatelyandthoroughlysearchedbytheauthorities！JimmieDale”ssmilefromquizzicalbecameironic。Itwouldaffordthepoliceanotherlittle，bewilderingreminderoftheGraySeal，andgiveCarruthers，goodoldCarruthersoftheMORNINGNEWS-ARGUS，soinnocentlyignorantthattheGraySealwashisoldcollegepal，yettheoneeditorofthemallwhowasnotforeverbarkingandyelpingattheGraySeal”sheels，achancetovindicatehimselfalittle，too！JimmieDalemoistenedtheadhesivesideofthegrayseal，and，stillmindfuloftell-talefingerprints，laiditwiththetweezersontheflapoftheenvelope，andpresseditfirmlyintoplacewithhiselbow。
Andthen，suddenly，everyfacultyinstantlyonthealert，hesnatcheduptheenvelopefromthedesk，andlistened。Wasitimagination，atrickofnerves，or——no，thereitwasagain！——afootfallonthegravelwalkatthefrontofthehouse。Thesoundbecamelouder，clearer——twofootfallsinsteadofone。ItwasStangeist，andsomebodywaswithhim。
InaninstantJimmieDalewasacrosstheroomandkneelingagainbeforethesafe。Hisfingerswereflyingnow。Theenvelopeshotbackintothepigeonholefromwhichhehadtakenit——theinnerdoorofthesafeclosedsilentlyandswiftly。
AdrychucklecamefromJimmieDale”slips。Itwasjustlikefiction，justpreciselytimeenoughtohaveaccomplishedwhathehadcomeforbeforehewasinterrupted，notasecondmoreorless，thevillainfoiledatthepsychologicalmoment！Thekeywasrattlinginthefrontdoornow——theywereinthehall——hecouldhearStangeist”svoice——therecameadullglowfromthehallway，followingtheclickofanelectric-lightswitch。Theouterdoorofthesafeswungshut，theboltsslidintoplace，thedialwhirledunderJimmieDale”sfingers。Itwasonlyasteptotheportieres，theopenwindow——andescape。Hestraightenedup，steppedback，theportieresclosedbehindhim——andthechucklediedonJimmieDale”slips。
Hewastrapped——caughtwithoutsomuchasacornerinwhichtoturn！
Stangeistwaseventhencomingintotheroom——andOUTSIDE，darklyoutlined，twoformsstoodjustbeneaththewindow。Instinctively，quickasaflash，JimmieDalecrouchedbelowthesill。Whowerethey？Whatdiditmean？Questionssweptinswiftsequencethroughhisbrain。Hadtheyseenhim？Itwouldbeverydarkagainstthebackgroundoftheportieres，butyetiftheywerewatching——hedrewabreathofrelief。Hehadnotbeenseen。Theirvoicesreachedhiminlow，guardedwhispers。
“Say，youse，Ike，pipeit！Dere”sawindowopeninthesnitch”sroom。Comeon，we”llgetindere。It”llmakethehairstanduponthebackofhisneckferastarter。”
“Aw，fergetit！“repliedanothervoice。“Canthetee-ayterstunt！
Clarieleavesthefrontdoorunfastened，don”the？An”dey”llbeindereinaminutenow。Wotcherwantterdo？Crabthegame？Hemighthearusan”fixClariebeforewehadachanst，theskinnyoldfox！An”dere”sthelightnow——see！Beatitonyertoesferthefrontofthehouse！“
Theroomwasfloodedwithlight。Throughtheportieres，thatJimmieDalepartedbythebarestfractionofaninch，hecouldseeStangeistandanotherman，athick-set，ugly-faced-lookingcustomer——
ClarieDeane，accordingtothatbrief，whisperedcolloquythathehadheardoutside。Helookedagainthroughthewindow。Thetwodarkformshaddisappearednow，buttheyhaddisappearedjustafewsecondstoolate——withthetwoothermennowintheroom，andoneofthemsoclosethatJimmieDalecouldalmosthavereachedoutandtouchedhim，itwasimpossibletogetthroughthewindowwithoutbeingdetected，whentheslightestsoundwouldattractinstantattentionandequallyinstantsuspicion。Itwasachancetobetakenonlyasalastresort。
JimmieDale”sfacegrewhard，ashisfingersclosedaroundhisautomaticanddrewtheweaponfromhispocket。Itwasallplainenough。Thatlastactinthedramawhichhehadspeculativelyanticipatedwasbeingstagedwithlittlelossoftime——andinagrimsortofwaythethoughtflashedacrosshismindthat，perilousashisownpositionwas，Stangeistatthatmomentwasinevengreaterperilthanhimself。AustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeane，giventhechance，andtheyseemedtohavemadethatchancenow，werenotlikelytodealinhalfmeasures——ClarieDeanehaddroppedintoachairbesidethedesk；andTheMopeandAustralianIkewerecreepingaroundtothefrontdoor！
Thepartingintheportiereswidenedalittlemore，averylittlemore，slowly，imperceptibly，untilJimmieDale，bythesimpleexpedientofmovinghishead，couldobtainanunobstructedviewoftheentireroom。
Stangeisttossedabaghehadbeencarryingonthedesk，pulledupachairoppositetoClarieDeane，andsatdown。BothmenweresidefacetoJimmieDale。
“Youtelltheboys，“saidStangeistabruptly，“tofadeawayafterthisforawhile。Thingsaregettingtoohot。AndyoutellTheMopeIdockhimfivehundredforthatextracrunchonRoessle”sskull。Thatsortofthingisn”tnecessary。That”sthekindofstuntthatgetsthepublicsore——themanwasdeadenoughasitwas。
See？“
“Sure！“ClarieDeane”sejaculationwasagrunt。
Stangeistopenedthebag，anddumpedthecontentsonthedesk——pileafterpileofbanknotes，thepayrolloftheMartindale-KensingtonMills。
“Somehaul！“observedClarieDeane，withahoarsechuckle。“Thepaperssaidovertwentythousand。”
“Youcan”talwaysbelievewhatthepaperssay，“returnedStangeistcurtly；and，takingascribblingpadfromthedesk，begantocheckupthepackages。
ClarieDeane”scigarhadgoneout。Herolledtheshortstubinhismouth，andleanedforward。
Thebillswereevidentlyjustastheyhadbeendeliveredtothemurderedpaymasteratthebank，doneupwithlittlenarrowpaperbandsinpackagesofonehundrednoteseach，saveforasmallbundleofloosebillswhichlatter，withtherollsofsilver，Stangeistswepttoonesideofthedesk。
Packagebypackage，Stangeistwentonjottingtheamountsdownonthepad。
“Nix！“growledClarieDeanesuddenly。“Cutthatout！Them”sfiversinthatwad。Makethatfivehundredinsteadofone——I”monteryer！“
“Mistake，“saidStangeistsuavely，changingthefigureswithhispencil。“You”reprettywideawakeforthistimeofnight，aren”tyou，Clarie？“
“Oh，Idunno！“respondedClarieDeanegruffly。“Notsovery！“
Stangeist，finishedwiththepackages，pickeduptheloosebills，and，withashortlaugh，tossedthemintothebagandfollowedthemwiththerollsofsilver。HepushedthebagtowardClarieDeane。
“That”salittleextraforyou，“hesaid。“Thetroublewithyoufellowsisthatyoudon”tknowwhenyou”rewelloff——butthesooneryoufinditoutthebetter，unlessyouwantanotherlessonlikeyesterday。”Hemadetheadditiononthepad。“Fifteenthousand，eighthundreddollars，“heannouncedsoftly。“That”sseventhousand，ninehundredforthethreeofyoutodivide，lessfivehundredfromTheMope。”
ClarieDeane”seyesnarrowed。Hishandswereonhisknees，hiddenbythedesk。
“There”smore”ntwentythere，“hesaidsullenly——anddrewamatchacrosstheunderedgeofthedeskwithalong，cracklingnoise。
Stangeist”sfacelostitssuavity，asnarlcurledhislips；but，abouttoreply，hesprangsuddenlytohisfeetinstead，hisheadturnedsharplytowardthedoor。
“What”sthat！“hesaidhoarsely。“It”snottheservants，theywouldn”tdareto”
Stangeist”swordsendedinagulp。Hewasstaringintothemuzzleofaheavy-caliberedrevolverthatClarieDeanehadjerkedupfromunderthedesk。
“Yousitdown，orI”llblowyourblockoff！“saidClarieDeane，withasuddenleer。
IthappenedthenalmostbeforeJimmieDalecouldgraspthedetails；
beforeevenClarieDeanehimselfcouldinterfere。Thedoorburstopen，twomenrushedin——andone，withabound，flunghimselfatStangeist。Theman”shand，graspingaclubbedrevolver，roseintheair，descendedonStangeist”shead——andStangeistwentdowninalimpheap，crashedintothechair，andslidfromthechairwithathudtothefloor。
TherewasanoathfromClarieDeane。Hejumpedfromhisseat，andwithaviolentshovesentthemanreelinghalfacrosstheroom。
“Blastyou，Mope！“hesnarled。“You”retooblamedfly！D”yewanterqueerthewholebiz？“
“Aw，wot”sthematterwidyouse！“TheMope，purple-facedwithrage，littleblackeyesglittering，mouthworkingunderaflattenednosethatsomepreviousencounterhadbrokenandbentoverthesideofhisface，advancedbelligerently。
AustralianIke，whohadenteredtheroomwithhim，pulledhimback。
“Fergetit！“heflungout。“Clarie”sdealin”thedeck。Fergetit！“
TheMopeglaredfromonetotheother；thenshookhisfistatStangeistonthefloor。
“Yousetwomakemesick！“hesneered。“Wot”stheuseofwaitin”allnight？Wewastobumphimoff，anyway，wasn”twe？Dat”swotyousesaidyerselves，”causewotwasterstophimwritin”outanotherpaperifwedidn”tfixhimferkeeps？“
“That”sallright，“rejoinedClarieDeane；“butthat”sthesecondact，youbonehead，see！Weain”tgotthepaperyet，havewe？Say，takealookatthatsafe！It”seasierterscarehiminteropenin”
itthantercrackit，ain”tit？“
JimmieDale，fromhiscrouchedposition，begantorisetohisfeetslowly，makingbuttheslightestmovementatatime，cautiousoftheleastsound。Hislipswerelikeathinline，hisfingerstightlypressedovertheautomaticinhishand。Therewasnotroomforhimbetweentheportieresandthewindow；and，dowhathecould，thehangingsbulgedalittle。Letoneofthethreenoticethat，orinadvertentlybrushagainsttheportieres，andhislifewouldnotbeworthaninstant”spurchase。
TheywereliftingStangeistupnow，proppinghimupinthechair。
Stangeistmoaned，openedhiseyes，staredinadazedwayatthethreefacesthatleeredintohis，thendawningintelligencecame，andhisface，thathadbeenwhitebefore，tookonapasty，grayishpallor。
“You——thethreeofyou！“hemumbled。“What”sthismean？“
AndthenClarieDeanelaughedinalow，brutalway。
“Wotd”yethinkitmeans？Wewantthatpaper，an”wewantitdamnquick——see！D”yethinkwewasgoin”terstandferhavin”atripterSingSingan”thewirechairdanglin”overourheads！“
Stangeistclosedhiseyes。Whenheopenedthemagain，somethingoftheold-timecraftinesswasinhisface。
“Well，whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？“heinquired，almostsharply。“Youknowwhatwillhappentoyou，ifanythinghappenstome。”
“Don”tyousekidyerself！“retortedClarieDeane。“D”yethinkwe”refools？Thisain”tlikeitwasyesterday——see！WeGETSthepaperthistime——sotherewon”tnothin”happentous。Youcomeacrosswithitblastedquicknow，orTheMope”llgiveyouanotheronthebeanthat”llputyoutosleepferkeeps！“
ThebloodwasrunningdownStangeist”sface。Hewipeditawayfromhiseyes。
“It”snothere，“hesaidinnocently。“It”sinmyboxinthesafety-
depositvaults。”
“Aw，“blurtedoutAustralianIke，pushingsuddenlyforward，“yousecan”tworkdatcrawlon”
“Cutitout，Ike！“snappedClarieDane。“I”mrunnin”this！Soit”sinthevaults，eh？“HeshovedhisfacetowardStangeist”s。
“Yes，“saidStangeisteasily。“Yousee——Iwaslookingforsomethinglikethis。”
ClarieDeane”sfistclenched。
“Youlie！“hechoked。“TheMope，here，wasthelastofusyoushowedthepapertoyesterdayafernoon，an”thevaultswasclosedthen——an”youain”tbeenthereto-day，”causeyou”vebeenwatched。
That”swhywefixeditferto-nightafterthedivvythatyou”vejusttriedterdousonagain，”causeweknewyouhadithere。”
“Itellyou，it”snothere，“saidStangeistevenly。
“Youlie！“saidClarieDeaneagain。“It”sinthatsafe。TheMopeheardyoutellthegirlinyerofficethatifanythinghappenedtoyoushewasterwiseupthedistrictattorneythattherewasapaperinyoursafeathomeferhimthatwasimportant。Nowthen，youbeatitoverterthatsafe，an”openitup——we”llgiveyouaminuteterdoitin。”
“Thepaper”snotthere，Itellyou，“saidStangeistoncemore。
“That”sallright，“submittedClarleDeanegrimly。“There”saquarterofthatminutegone。”
“Iwon”t！“Stangeistflashedoutviolently。
“That”sallright，“repeatedClarieDeane。“There”shalfofthatminutegone。”
JimmieDale”seyes，inafascinatedsortofway，wereonStangeist。
Theman”sfacewastwitchingnow，moisturebegantooozefromhisforehead，asthecallousbrutalityofthescowlingfacesseemedtogethim——andthenhelurchedsuddenlyforwardinhischair。
“MyGod！“hecriedout，aringofterrorinhisvoice“Whatdoyoumeantodo？You”llpayforit！They”llgetyou！Theservantswillbebackinaminute。”
“Twoskirts！“jeeredClarieDeane。Weain”tgoin”terrunawayfromthem。Iftheycomesbeforewegoes，we”llfix”em。Thatminute”sup！“
Stangeistlickedhislipswithhistongue。
“Suppose——supposeIrefuse？“hesaidhoarsely。
“Youcansuityerself，“saidClarieDeane，withaviciousgrin。“Weknowthepaper”sthere，an”wegetsitbeforeweleaveshere——see？
Youcantakeyerchoice。Eitheryougoesoverterthesafean”
opensityerself，orelse“——hepausedandproducedasmallbottlefromhispocket”thisisnitro-glycerin”，an”weopensitferyouwiththis。Onlyifwedoesthejobwedoesitproper。Wetiesyouupandsetsyouagainstthedoorofthesafebeforewetouchesoffthe”soup”an”mabbeifyeragoodguesseryoucanguesstherest。”
Therewasashort，raucousguffawfromTheMope。
Stangeistturnedadrawnfacetowardtheman，staredathim，andstaredinamiserablewayattheothertwointurn。Helickedhislipsagain——nonewasinabetterpositionthanhimselftoknowthattherewouldbeneitherscruplesnorhesitancytointerferewithcarryingoutthethreat。
“Suppose，“hesaid，tryingtokeephisvoicesteady，“supposeIopenthesafe——whatthen——afterward？“
“Weain”tgotthesafeopenyet，“counteredClarieDeaneuncompromisingly。“An”weain”tgotnomoretimeterfooloverit，either。YougetamoveonbeforeIcountsfive，orTheMopean”Iketiesyouup！One”
Stangeiststaggeredtohisfeet，wipedthebloodoutofhiseyesforthesecondtime，and，withlipsworking，wentunsteadilyacrosstheroomtothesafe。
Hekneltbeforeit，andbegantomanipulatethedial；whiletheotherscrowdedaroundbehindhim。TheMopewasfingeringhisrevolveragainclubfashion。AustralianIke”selbowjustgrazedtheportieres，andJimmieDaleflattenedhimselfagainstthewindow，holdinghisbreath——asmileonhislipsthatwasmirthless，deadly，cold。Theendwasnotfaroffnow；andthen——WHAT？
Stangeisthadtheouterdoorofthesafeopennow——andnowtheinnerdoorswungback。Hereachedinhishandtothepigeonhole，drewouttheenvelope——andwithasudden，wildcry，reeledtohisfeet。
“MyGod！“hescreamedout。“What”s——what”sthis！“
ClarieDeanesnatchedtheenvelopefromhim。
“THEGRAYSEAL！“——thewordscamewithajerkfromhislips。Herippedtheenvelopeopenfrantically——andlikeamanstunnedgazedatthefourblanksheets，whilethecolourlefthisface。“IT”S
GONE！“hecriedouthoarsely。
“Gone！“TherewasaburstofoathsfromAustralianIke。“Gone！
Denwe”renipped——delotofus！“
TheMope”sfacewaslikeamaniac”sashewhirledonStangeist。
“Sure！“hecroaked。“Butyousegetsyersfirst，youse”
Withacry，Stangeist，toeludetheblow，duckedblindlybackward——
intotheportieres——andwitharipandtearthehangingswerewrenchedapart。
Itcameinstantaneously——ayellofmingledsurpriseandfuryfromthethree——thecrashandspitofJimmieDale”srevolverashefiredoneshotatthefloortostoptheirrush——thenheflunghimselfatthewindow，throughit，anddroppedsprawlingtotheground。
Astreamofflamecutthedarknessabovehim，abulletwhistledbyhishead——another——andanother。Hewasonhisfeet，quickasacat，andrunningclosealongsideofthewallofthehouse。Heheardathudbehindhim，stillanother，andyetathird——theyweredroppingthroughthewindowafterhim。Cameanothershot，anangryhumofthebulletcloserthanbefore——thenthepoundofracingfeet。
JimmieDaleswungaroundthecornerofthehouse，runningattopspeed。Somethingthatwaslikeahotironsuddenlyburnedandsearedalongthesideofhisheadjustabovetheear。Hereeled，staggered，recoveredhimself，anddashedon。Itnauseatedhim，thatstinginginhishead，andallatonceseemedtobedraininghisstrengthaway。Theshouts，theshots，therunningfeetbecamelikeacuriousbuzzinginhisears。Itseemedstrangethattheyshouldhavehithim，thatheshouldbewounded！Ifhecouldonlyreachthelowstonewallbytheroad，hecouldatleastmakeafightforhislifeontheotherside！
RedstreaksswambeforeJimmieDale”seyes。Thewallwassuchalongwayoff——ayardortwowasaverylongwaymoretogo——theweaknessseemedtobecreepingupnoweventonumbhisbrain。No，herewasthewall——theyhadn”thithimagain——helaughedinadementedway——androlledhisbodyover，andfelltotheotherside。
“JIMMIE！“
Thecryseemedtoreachsomeinnerconsciousness，revivehim，sendthebloodwhippingthroughhisveins。Thatvoice！Itwasher——
HERS！TheTocsin！Therewasanautomobile，engineracing，standingthereintheroad。Hewontohisfeet——dark，rushingformswerealmostatthewall。Hefired——once——twice——firedagain——andturned，staggeringforthecar。
“Jimmie！Jimmie——QUICK！“
Panting，gasping，hehalffellintothetonneau。Thecarleapedforward，yellsfilledtheair——butonlyonethingwasdominantinJimmieDale”sreelingbrainnow。Hepulledhimselfuptohisfeet，andleanedoverthebackoftheseat，reachingfortheslimfigurethatwasbentoverthewheel。
“It”syou——youatlast！“hecried。“Yourface——letmeleeyourface！“
Abulletsplitthebackpanelofthecar——littlespurtingflamesweredancingoutfromtheroadwaybehind，“Areyoumad！“sheshoutedbackathim。“Letmesteer——doyouwantthemtohitme！“
“No-o，“saidJimmieDale，inaqueersingsongsortofway，andhisheadseemedtospindizzilyaround。“No——Iguess”Hechoked。
“Thepaper——it”sin——mypocket“——andhewentdownunconsciousonthefloorofthecar。
Whenherecoveredhissenseshewaslyingonacouchinaplainlyfurnishedroom，andaman，astranger，red，jovial-faced，farmerishlooking，wasbendingoverhim。
“WhereamI？“hedemandedfinally，proppinghimselfuponhiselbow。
“You”reallright，“repliedtheman。“Shesaidyou”dcomearoundinalittlewhile。”
“Whosaidso？“inquiredJimmieDale。
“Shedid。Thewomanwhobroughtyouhereaboutfiveminutesago。
Shesaidsheranyoudownwithhercar。”
“Oh！“saidJimmieDale。Hefelthishead——itwasbandaged，anditwasbandaged，hewasquitesure，withapieceoftornunderskirt。
Helookedatthemanagain。“Youhaven”ttoldmeyetwhereIam。”
“LongIsland，“theotheranswered。“Myname”sHanson。Ikeepabitofatruckgardenhere。”
“Oh，“saidJimmieDaleagain。
Themancrossedtheroom，pickedupanenvelopefromthetable，andcamebacktoJimmieDale。
“Shesaidtogiveyouthisassoonasyougotyoursenses，andaskedustoputyouupforawhile，aslongasyouwantedtostay，andpaidusforit，too。She”sallright，sheis。Youdon”twanttoholdtheaccidentupagainsther，shewasmightysorryaboutit。
AndnowI”llgoandseeiftheoldlady”sgotyourroomreadywhileyou”rereadin”yourletter。”
Themanlefttheroom。
JimmieDalesatuponthecouch，andtoretheenvelopeopen。Thenote，scrawledinpencil，beganabruptly：
Youwerequiteaproblem。Icouldn”ttakeyouHOME——couldI？I
couldn”ttakeyoutowhatyoucalltheSanctuarycouldI？I
couldn”ttakeyoutoahospital，norcallinadoctor——thestainyouusewouldn”tstandit。But，thankGod！Iknowit”sonlyafleshwound，andyouareallrightwhereyouareforthedayortwothatyoumustkeepquietandtakecareofyourself。Bythetimeyoureadthisthepaperwillbeonthewaytotheproperhands，andbymorningthefourwheretheyshouldbe。TherewereafewarticlesinyourclothesIthoughtitbettertotakechargeofincase——well，incaseofACCIDENT。”
JimmieDaletorethenoteup，andsmiledwrylyatthedoor。Hefeltinhispockets。Mask，revolver，burglar”stools，andthethinmetalinsigniacaseweregone。
“AndIhadthesublimeoptimism，“murmuredJimmieDale，“tospendmonthstryingtofindherasLarrytheBat！“
CHAPTERIX
TWOCROOKSANDAKNAVE
Thebulletwoundalongthesideofhisheadandjustabovehisearwouldhavebeenaveryawkwardthingindeed，inmorewaysthanone，forJimmieDale，themillionaire，tohaveexplainedathisclub，inhissocialset，oreventohisservants，andoftheselattertoJasontheSolicitousinparticular；butforJimmieDaleasLarrytheBatitwasamatteroflittlemoment。TherewasnonetoquestionLarrytheBat，saveinamostcasualandindifferentway；andabandageofanydescription，primarilyandaboveallonethathecouldarrangehimself，withonlyhimselftotakenoteoftheincongruoushuesofskinwherethestain，thegreasepaint，andthemake-upwaswashedoff，wouldexcitelittleattentioninthatworldwheredailyaffrayswerecommon-placehappenings，andawound，forwhateverreason，hadlongsincelostthetangofnovelty。WhythenshoulditarouseevenapassinginterestifLarrytheBat，creditedasthemostconfirmedofdopefiends，shouldhavefallendownthedark，ricketystairsofthetenementinoneofhisorgies，and，intheexpressivelanguageoftheBadLands，crackedhisbean！
AndsoJimmieDalehadbeenforcedtomaintaintheroleofLarrytheBatforafarlongerperiodthanhehadanticipatedwhen，tendaysbefore，hehadassumeditforthenight”sworkthathadsonearlyresultedfatallyforhimself，thoughithadplacedRoessle”smurderersbehindthebars。For，thenextday，unwillingtocourttheriskofremaininginthatneighbourhood，hehadleftHanson”s，thefarmer”s，houseonLongIslandwheretheTocsinhadcarriedhiminanunconsciousstate，telephonedJasonthathehadbeenunexpectedlycalledoutoftownforafewdays，andreturnedtotheSanctuaryinNewYork。Andhere，tohisgrimdismay，hehadfoundtheunderworldinastateoffurious，angryunrest，likeanestofhornets，stirredup，seekingtowreakvengeanceonanunseenassailant。
Foryears，astheGraySeal，JimmieDalehadlivedwiththesloganofthepolice，“TheGraySealdeadoralive——buttheGraySeal！“
soundinginhisears；withthenewspapersscreamingtheirdiatribes，arousingthepeopleagainsthim，naggingtheauthoritiesintosleepless，frenziedeffortstotraphim；withapriceuponhisheadthatwaslargeenoughtomakeaman，nottoopretentious，richforlife——butintheunderworld，untilthen，thenameoftheGraySealhadbeenonetoconjurewith，fortheunderworldhadswornbytheunknownmastercriminal，andhadspokenhisnamewithareverencethatwasnonethelessgenuineevenifpungentlytaintedwithunholiness。Butnowitwasdifferent。UpanddownthroughtheBadLands，ingamblinghells，inviciousresorts，inthehidingplaceswherethugsandcrooksburrowedthemselvesawayfromthedaylight，throughtheheartandtheoutskirtsoftheunderworldtravelledthefiat，whisperedoutofmouthscrookedtooneside——DEATHTOTHEGRAY
SEAL！
Ganglanddifferenceswereforgotteninthelargerissueofthecommonweal。Thegangspiritbecamethespiritofaunitedwhole，andthecrimefraternitybuzzedandhummedpoisonously，spurredonbyhatred，thirstforrevenge，fear，and，perhapsmostpotentofall，ahideoussuspicionnowofeachother。
Theunderworldhadreceivedashockatwhichitstoodaghast，andwhich，withitsterrifyingpossibilities，struckconsternationintothesoulofeveryindividualofthatbrotherhoodwhosebondwascrime，whowasalready“wanted“forsomeoffenceorother，whetheritrangedfrommurderinthefirstdegreetosomepettypieceofsneakthievery。Stangeist，theIndianchief，thelawyerwhosecunningbrainhadstoodasarampartbetweentheunderworldandaprisoncell，washimselfnowintheTombswiththecertaintyoftheelectricchairbeforehim；andwithhim，thesamefateequallyassured，wereAustralianIke，TheMope，andClarieDeane！
AristocratsoftheBadLands，peersofthatingloriousrealmwerethosefour——andtheblowhadfallenwithstunningforce，ablowthatinitselfwouldhavebeenenoughtohavestirredtheunderworldtoitsdepths。Butthatwasnotall——fromthecellsintheTombs，fromthefourcametheword，andpassedfrommouthtomouthinthatstrangeundergroundexchangeuntilallhadheardit，thattheGraySealhad“SQUEALED。”TheGraySealwho，thoughunknown，theyhadcountedthemosteminentamongthemselves，hadsquealed！WhowastheGraySeal？IthehadheldthesecretsofStangeistandhisband，whatelsemighthenotknow？Whoelsemightnotfallnext？
TheGraySealhadbecomeasnitch，amenace，asourceofdangerthatstalkedamongthemlikeaghastlyspectre。WhowastheGraySeal？
Noneknew。
“DeathtotheGraySeal！Runhimtoearth！“wentthewhisperfromliptolip；andwiththewhispermenstareduncertainlyintoeachother”sfaces，fearfulthattheonetowhomtheyspokemightevenbe——theGraySeal！
JimmieDale”slipstwistedqueerlyashelookedaroundhimatthesqualidappointmentsoftheSanctuary。Thepolicewerebadenough，thepaperswereworse；butthiswasastillgraverperil。Witheverydenizenoftheunderworldbelowthedeadlinesuspiciousofeachother，theirlives，thepenitentiary，oraprisonsentencethestakesagainstwhicheachoneplayed，theroleofLarrytheBat，cleveraswasthemake-upanddisguise，wasfraughtnowmorethaneverbeforewithdangerandperil。Itseemedasthoughslowlythenetwasbeginningatlasttotightenaroundhim。
Themurky，yellowflameofthegasjetflickeredsuddenly，asthoughinacquiescencewiththequick，impulsiveshrugofJimmieDale”sshoulders——andJimmieDale，bendingtopeerintothecrackedmirrorthatwasproppeduponthebroken-leggedtable，knottedhisdresstiealmostfastidiously。Thehair，ifjustatrifletoolong，coveredthescaronhisheadnow，thewoundnolongerrequiredabandage，andLarrytheBat，forthetimebeingatleast，haddisappeared。Acrossthefootofthebed，neatlyfolded，layhisdresscoatandovercoat，butlittlecreasedforallthattheyhadlaininthathiding-placeundertheflooringsincethenightwhen，hurryingfromtheclub，hehadplacedthemtheretoassumeinsteadthetattersofLarrytheBat。ItwasJimmieDaleinhisownpersonagainwhostoodtherenowinLarrytheBat”sdisreputableden，anincongruousfigureenoughagainstthebackgroundofhismiserablesurroundings，inperfect-fittingshoesandtrousers，thebroadexpanseofspotlesswhiteshirtbosomglisteningeveninthepoverty-strickenflarefromthesingle，sputteringgasjet。
JimmieDaletookthewatchfromhispocketthathadnotbeenwoundformanydays，wounditmechanically，setitbyguesswork——itwasnotfarfromeighto”clock——andreplaceditinhispocket。
Carefullythen，oneatatime，heexaminedhisfingers，long，slim，sensitive，taperingfingers，magicalmastersofsafesandlocksandvaultsofthemostintricateandmodernmechanism——nosingletraceofgrimeremained，theyweremetamorphosedhandsfromthefilthypawsofLarrytheBat。Henoddedinsatisfaction；andpickedupthemirrorforafinalinspectionofhimself，that，thistime，didnotmissasinglelineinhisfaceorneck。AgainJimmieDalenodded。
Asthoughhehadvanishedintothinair，asthoughhehadneverexisted，notatraceofLarrytheBatremained——excepttheheapofragsuponthefloor，thebatteredslouchhat，thefrayedtrousers，thepatchedbootswiththeirbrokenlaces，themismatedsocks，thegrimyflannelshirt，andtheoldcoatthathehadjustdiscarded。
Themirrorwasreplacedonthetable；and，pushingtheheapofclothesbeforehimwithhisfoot，JimmieDalekneltdowninthecorneroftheroomwheretheoilclothhadbeenturnedupandthelooseplankingofthefloorremoved，andbegantopackthearticlesawayinthehole。JimmieDalerolledthetrousersofLarrytheBatintoacompactlittlebundle，andstuffedthemundertheflooring。
Thegasjetseemedtoblinkagaininasortofconfidentialapproval，asthoughthesecretlayinviolatebetweenitselfandJimmieDale。Throughtheclosedwindow，shadetightlydrawn，came，lowandmuffled，thesoundofdistantlifefromtheBowery，afewblocksaway。Thegasjet，sufferingfromairsomewherewithinthepipes，hissedangrily，theyellowflamediedtoalittleblue，forkedspurt——andJimmieDalewasonhisfeet，hisfacesuddenlyhardandwhiteasmarble。
SOMEONEWASKNOCKINGATTHEDOOR！
ForthefractionofasecondJimmieDalestoodmotionless。FoundasJimmieDaleinthedenofLarrytheBat，andtheconsequencesrequirednoeffortoftheimaginationtopicturethem；policeordenizenoftheunderworldwhowasknockingthere，itwasallthesame，themethodofdeathwouldbealittledifferent，thatwasall——
onelegalised，theothernot。JimmieDale，LarrytheBat，theGraySeal，onceuncovered，couldexpectasmuchquarteraswouldbegiventoacorneredrat。Hiseyesswepttheroomwithaswift，criticalglance——evidencesofLarrytheBat，theclothes，werestillabout，evenifheinthepersonofJimmieDale，alonedamningenough，werenotstandingtherehimself。Andhewasevenweaponless——theTocsinhadtakentherevolverfromhispocket，togetherwiththoseothertelltalearticles，themask，theflashlight，thelittleblued-steeltools，beforeshehadintrustedhimthatnight，woundedandunconscious，toHanson”scare。
JimmieDaleslippedhisfeetoutofhisloweveningpumps，snatcheduptheoldcoatandhatfromthepile，putthemon，and，withoutasound，reachedthegasjetandturneditoff。Asecondhadgoneby——
nomore——theknockingstillsoundedinsistentlyonthedoor。Itwasdarknow，perfectlyblack。Hestartedacrosstheroom，histreadabsolutelysilentasthetrainedmuscles，relaxing，threwthebodyweightgraduallyupononefootbeforethenextstepwastaken。
Itwaslikeashadow，alittleblackerinoutlinethanthesurroundingblackness，stealingacrossthefloor。
Halfwaytothedoorhepaused。Theknockinghadceased。Helistenedintently。Itwasnotrepeated。Instead，hisearcaughtaguardedstepretreatingoutsideinthehall。JimmieDaledrewabreathofrelief。Hewentonagaintothedoor，stilllistening。
Wasitatrap——thatstepoutside？
Atthedoornow，tense，alert，heloweredhiseartothekeyhole。
Therecamethefaintestcreakfromthestairs。JimmieDale”sbrowsgathered。Itwasstrange！Theknockinghadnotlastedlong。
Whoeveritwaswasgoingaway——butitrequiredtheutmostcautiontodescendthosestairs，ricketyandtumble-downastheywere，withnomoresoundthanthat！Whysuchcaution？Whynotamoredeterminedandprolongedeffortathisdoor——thevisitorhadbeeneasilysatisfiedthatLarrytheBatwasnotwithin。TOOeasilysatisfied！
JimmieDaleturnedthekeynoiselesslyinthelock。Heopenedthedoorcautiously——halfinch——aninch，therewasnosoundoffootstepsnow。Occasionallyalodgermovedaboutonthefloorabove；
occasionallyfromsomewhereinthetenementcamethemurmurofvoicesasfrombehindcloseddoor——thatwasall。Allelsewassilenceanddarknessnow。
Thedoor，onitswell-oiledhinges，swungwideopen。JimmieDalethrustouthisheadintothehall——andsomethingfelluponthethresholdwithalittlethud——butforamomentJimmieDaledidnotmove。Listening，tryingtopiercethedarkness，hewasasstillasthesilencearoundhim；thenhestoopedandgropedalongthethreshold。Hishandcloseduponwhatseemedlikeasmallboxwrappedinpaper。Hepickeditup，closedandlockedthedooragain，andretreatedbackacrosstheroom。Itwasstrange——
unpleasantlystrange——aboxproppedstealthilyagainstthedoorsothatitwouldfalltothethresholdwhenthedoorwasopened！Andwhythestealth？Whatdiditmean？Hadtheunderworldwithitsthousandeyesandearsalreadysucceededinafewdayswherethepolicehadfailedsignallyforyears——hadtheysenthimthis，whateveritwas，assomegrimtokenthattheyhadrunLarrytheBattoearth？Heshookhishead。No；ganglandstruckmoreswiftly，withlessfinessethanthat——the“cat-and-mouse“actwasneveroneitfavoured，forthemousehadbeenknowntogetaway。
JimmieDalelightedthegasagain，andturnedthepackageoverinhishands。Itwas，ashehadsurmised，asmallcardboardbox；anditwaswrappedinplainpaperandtiedwithastring。Heuntiedthestring，andstillsuspicious，asamanissuspiciousintheknowledgethatheisstalkedbyperilateveryturn，removedthewrapperalittlegingerly。Itwasstillwithoutsignormarkinguponit，justanordinarycardboardbox。Heliftedoffthecover，and，withashort，suddenlaugh，stared，alittleoutofcountenance，atthecontents。
Onthetoplayawhite，unaddressedenvelope。HERS！Beneath——heemptiedtheboxonthetable——hisblacksilkmask，hisautomaticrevolver，thekitoffine，smallblued-steelburglar”stools，hispocketflashlight，andthethinmetalinsigniacase。TheTocsin！
ImpulsivelyJimmieDaleturnedtowardthedoor——andstopped。Hisshouldersliftedinashrugthat，meanttobephilosophical，wasfarfromphilosophical。Hecouldnot，darednotventurefarthroughthetenementdressedashewas；andevenifhecouldtherewerethreeexitstotheSanctuary，afactthatnowforthefirsttimewasnotwhollyasourceofunmixedsatisfactiontohim；andbesides——shewasgone！
JimmieDaleopenedtheletter，agrimsmileplayingonhislips。HehadforgottenforthemomentthattheillusionhehadcherishedforyearsinthebeliefthatshedidnotknowLarrytheBatasanaliasofJimmieDalewasnomorethan——anillusion。Well，ithadbeenapieceofconsummateegotismonhispart，thatwasall。But，afterall，whatdiditmatter？Hehadhadhisinnings，triedintheroleofLarrytheBattosolveheridentity，devotedweeksonendtotheattempt——andfailed。Someday，perhaps，histurnwouldcome；someday，perhaps，shewouldnolongerbeabletoeludehim，unless——thelettercrackledsuddenlyinhisfingers——unlessthehousethattheyhadbuiltonsuchstrangeandperilousfoundationscrashedatsomemoment，withoutaninstant”swarning，indisasterandruintotheground。Whoknewbutthatthisletternow，anothercalltotheGraySealtoact，anotherperilinvited，wouldbetheLAST？Theremustbeanendsomeday；luckandnervehadtheirlimitations——ithadalmostendedlastweek！
“DearPhilanthropicCrook“——itwasthesameinevitablebeginning。
“Youarewellenoughagain，aren”tyou，Jimmie？——Iamsendingtheselittlethingsbacktoyou，foryouwillneedthemto-night。”——JimmieDalereadon，mutteringsnatchesoftheletteraloud：“MichaelBreenprospectinginAlaska——mapoflocationofrichminingclaim——
Hamvert，hisformerpartner，hadpreviouslyfleecedhimoffifteenthousanddollars——hisshareofadealtogether——Breenwasalwaysaverypoorman——Breenlaterstruckaclaimalone；but，takingsick，camebackhome——diedonarrivalinNewYorkaftergivingmaptohiswife——wifeinveryneedycircumstances——liveswithlittledaughterofseveninNewRochelle——worksoutbythedayatHenryMittel”shouseontheSoundnear-by——wifeintrustedmapforsafe-keepingandadvicetoMittel——Hamvertaftermap——telephonewirescut——roomonehundredandforty-eight，corner，right，firstfloor，Palais-
MetropoleHotel，unoccupied——connectingdoors——quarterpastnineto-night——theWeasel——Mittel”shouselater——thepolice——lookoutforboththeWeaselandthepolice，Jimmie”
Therewasmore，severalpagesofit，explanations，specificdetailsdowntoaminutedescriptionofthelocalityandplanofthehouseontheSound。JimmieDale，toointentnowtomutter，readonsilently。Attheendheshuffledthesheetsalittleabstractedly，ashisfacehardened。Thenhisfingersbegantoteartheletterintolittleshreds，tearingitoverandoveragain，tearingtheshredsintotinyparticles。Hehadnotbeenfarwrong。Fromwhatthenightpromisednow，thismightwellbethelastletter。Whoknew？Therewouldbeneedofallthewitandluckandnerveto-nightthattheGraySealhadeverhadbefore。
Withajerk，JimmieDalerousedhimselffromthemomentaryreverieintowhichhehadfallen；and，allactionnow，stuffedthetornpiecesoftheletterintohistrouserspockettobedisposedoflaterinthestreet；tookofftheoldcoatandslouchhatagain，andresumedthedisposalofLarrytheBat”seffectsundertheflooring。
Thisaccomplished，hereplacedtheplankingandoilcloth，stoodup，putonhisdresscoatandlightovercoat，and，fromthetable，stowedtheblacksilkmask，theautomatic，thelittlekitoftools，theflashlight，andthethinmetalcaseawayinhispockets。
JimmieDaleraisedhishandtothegasfixture，circledtheroomwithaglancethatmissednosingledetail——thenthelightwentout，thedoorclosedbehindhim，locked，adarkshadowcreptsilentlydownthestairs，outthroughthesidedoorintothealleyway，alongthealleywayclosetothewallofthetenementwhereitwasblackest，and，satisfiedthatforthemomenttherewerenopassers-
by，emergedonthestreet，walkingleisurelytowardtheBowery。
OncewellawayfromtheSanctuary，however，JimmieDalequickenedhissteps；andtwentyminuteslater，havingstoppedbutoncetotelephonetohishomeonRiversideDriveforhistouringcar，hewasbrisklymountingthestepsoftheSt。JamesClubonFifthAvenue。
Anothertwentyminutesafterthat，andhehaddismissedBenson，hischauffeur，and，atthewheelofhisbig，powerfulmachine，wasspeedinguptownforthePalais-MetropoleHotel。
Itwastwelveminutesafterninewhenhedrewupatthecurbinfrontofthesideentranceofthehotel——hiswatch，setbyguesswork，hadbeenalittleslow，andhehadcorrecteditattheclub。Hewasreplacingthewatchinhispocketashesaunteredaroundthecorner，andpassedinthroughthemainentrancetothebiglobby。
JimmieDaleavoidedtheelevators——itwasonlyoneflightup，andelevatorboysonoccasionshadbeenknowntobeobservant。Atthetopofthefirstlanding，along，wide，heavilycarpetedcorridorwasbeforehim。“Numberonehundredandforty-eight，thecornerroomontheright，“theTocsinhadsaid。JimmieDalewalkednonchalantlyalong——pastNo。148。Atthelowerendofthehallagroupofpeopleweregatheredaroundtheelevatordoors；halfwaydownthecorridorabellboycameoutofaroomandwentaheadofJimmieDale。
AndthenJimmieDalestoppedsuddenly，andbegantoretracehissteps。Thegrouphadenteredtheelevator，thebellboyhaddisappearedaroundthefartherendofthehallintothewingofthehotel——thecorridorwasempty。InamomenthewasstandingbeforethedoorofNo。148；inanother，underthepersuasionofalittlesteelinstrument，deftlymanipulatedbyJimmieDale”sslim，taperingfingers，thelockclickedback，thedooropened，andhesteppedinside，closingandlockingthedooragainbehindhim。
Itwasalreadyaquarterpastnine，butnoonewasasyetintheconnectingroom——thefanlightnextdoorhadbeendarkashepassed。
Hisflashlightsweptabouthim，locatedtheconnectingdoor——andwentout。Hemovedtothedoor，triedit，andfounditlocked。
Againthelittlesteelinstrumentcameintoplay，releasedthelock，andJimmieDaleopenedthedoor。Againtheflashlightwinked。Thedooropenedintoabathroomthat，obviously，atwill，waseithercommontothetworoomsorcould，bythesimpleexpedientoflockingonedoorortheother，beusedbyoneoftheroomsalone。Inthepresentinstance，theoccupantoftheadjoiningapartmenthadtaken“aroomwithabath。”
JimmieDalepassedthroughthebathroomtotheoppositedoor。Thiswasalreadythree-quartersopen，andswungoutwardintothebedroom，nearthelowerendoftheroombythewindow。Throughthecrackofthedoorbythehinges，JimmieDaleflashedhislight，testingtheradiusofvision，pushedthedoorafewincheswideropen，testeditagainwiththeflashlight——andretreatedbackintoNo。148，closingthedooronhissideuntilitwasjustajar。
Hestoodtherethensilentlywaiting。ItwasHamvert”sroomnextdoor，andHamvertandtheWeaselwerealreadylate。Astepsoundedoutsideinthecorridor。JimmieDalestraightenedintently。Thesteppassedondownthehallwayanddiedaway。Afalsealarm！
JimmieDalesmiledwhimsically。Itwasastrangeadventurethisthatconfrontedhim，quitethestrangestinawaythattheTocsinhadeverplanned——andthenightlaybeforehimfullofperilinitsextraordinarycomplications。TowinthehandhemustblockHamvertandtheWeaselwithoutallowingthemaninklingthathisinterferencewasanythingmorethan，say，theluckofahotelsneakthiefatmost。TheWeaselwasadangerousman，oneoftheslickestsecond-storyworkersinthecountry，withsafecrackingasoneofhisfavouritepursuits，amanmostearnestlydesiredbythepolice，providedthelattercouldcatchhim“withthegoods。”AsforHamvert，hedidnotknowHamvert，whowasastrangerinNewYork，exceptthatHamverthadfleecedamannamedMichaelBreenoutofhisshareinaclaimtheyhadhadtogetherwhenBreenhadfirstgonetoAlaskatotryhisluck，andnow，havingdiscoveredthatBreen，whenprospectingalonesomewhereintheinterioramonthorsoago，hadfoundarichveinandhadmadeamapordiagramofitslocation，he，Hamvert，hadfollowedtheothertoNewYorkforthepurposeofgettingitbyhookorcrook。Breen”s“find“hadbeentoolate；
takensick，hehadneverworkedhisclaim，hadbarelygotbackhomebeforehedied，andonlyintimetohandhiswifethestrangelegacyofaroughlyscrawledlittlepieceofpaper，and——JimmieDalestraightenedupalertlyoncemore。Stepsagain——andthistimecomingfromthedirectionoftheelevator；thenvoices；thentheopeningofthedoorofthenextroom；thenavoice，distinctlyaudible：
“Pullupachair，andwe”llgetdowntobusiness。You”relate，asitis。Wehaven”tanytimetowaste，ifwe”regoingtowashpay-
dirtto-night。”
“Aw，dat”sallright！“respondedanothervoice——quiteevidentlytheWeasel”s。“Don”tyouseworry——degame”scinchedtoafadeaway。”
Therewasthesoundofchairsbeingmovedacrossthefloor。JimmieDaleslippedtheblacksilkmaskoverhisface，openedthedooronhissideofthebathroomcautiously，and，withoutasound，steppedintothebathroomthatwaslightednow，ofcourse，bythelightstreaminginthroughthepartiallyopeneddoorofHamvert”sroom。
Thetwoweretalkingearnestlynowinlowertones。JimmieDaleonlycaughtawordhereandthere——hisfacultiesforthemomentwereconcentratedontraversingthebathroomsilently。Hereachedthefartherdoor，crouchedthere，peeredthroughthecrack——andtheoldwhimsicalsmileflickeredacrosshislipsagain。
ThePalais-Metropolewashighclassandexclusive，andtheWeaselforoncelookedquitethegentleman，and，forallhissharp，ferretface，notentirelyoutofkeepingwithhissurroundings——elsehewouldneverhavegotfartherthanthelobby。Theotherwasashort，thickset，heavy-jowledman，withagreatshockofsandyhair，andsmallblackeyesthatlookedfurtivelyoutfromoverhanging，bushyeyebrows。
“Well，“Hamvertwassaying，“thedetailsareyourconcern。WhatI
wantisresults。Wewon”twastetime。You”retobebackherebydaylight——onlyseethatthere”snocome-back。”
“Leaveittome！“returnedtheWeasel，withassurance。“How”sderegoin”terbeanycome-back？Mittelkeepsitinhissafe，don”the？
Well，gentlemen”shouseshasbeenrobbedbefore——an”disjob”llbeagoodone。Degeographfystuntyousewantsgetspinchedwidderest，dat”sall。Itdisappears——see？Who”sterknowyousegetsyerclawsonit？It”sjustlostindeshuffle。”
“Right！“agreedHamvertbriskly——andfromhisinsidepocketproducedapackageofcrispnewbills，yellow-backs，andevidentlyoflargedenominations。“Halfdownandhalfondelivery——that”sourdeal。”
“Dat”swot！“assentedtheWeaselcurtly。
Hamvertbegantocountthebills。
JimmieDale”shandstoleintohispocket，andcameoutwithhishandkerchiefandthethinmetalinsigniacase。Fromthelatter，withitslittlepairoftweezers，hetookoutoneoftheadhesivegrayseals。Hiseyeswarilyonthetwomen，hedroppedthesealonhishandkerchief，restoredthethinmetalcasetohispocket——andinitssteadtheblue-blackuglymuzzleofhisautomaticpeepedfrombetweenhisfingers。
“Fivethousanddown，“saidHamvert，pushingapileofnotesacrossthetable，andtuckingtheremainderbackintohispocket；“andtheotherfive”shereforyouwhenyougetbackwiththemap。
Ordinarily，Iwouldn”tpayapennyinadvance，butsinceyouwantitthatwayandthemap”snogoodtoyouwhiletherestofthelonggreenis，I”Heswallowedhiswordswithastartledgulp，clutchedhastilyatthemoneyonthetable，andbegantostruggleupfromhischairtohisfeet。
Withaswift，noiselessside-stepthroughtheopendoor，JimmieDalewasstandingintheroom。
JimmieDale”stoneswereconversational。“Don”tgetup，“saidJimmieDalecoolly。“Andtakeyourhandoffthatmoney！“
TheWeasel，whosebackhadbeentothedoor，squirmedaroundinhischair——andinhisturnstaredintothemuzzleofJimmieDale”srevolver，whilehisjawdroppedandsagged。
“Good-evening，Weasel，“observedJimmieDalecasually。“Iseemtobeinluckto-night。Igotintothatroomnextdoor，butanemptyroomisslimpicking。AndthenitseemedtomeIheardsomeoneinherementionfivethousanddollarstwice，whichmakestenthousand，andwhichhappenstobejustexactlythesumIneedatthepresentmoment——ifIcan”tgetanymore！Ihaven”tthehonourofyourwealthyfriend”sacquaintance，butIamreallycharmedtomeethim。
You——er——understand，bothofyou，thattheslightestsoundmightproveextremelyembarrassing。”
Hamvert”sfacewaswhite，andhestirreduneasilyinhischair；butintotheWeasel”sface，thefirstshockofsurpriseddismaypast，cameadull，angryred，andintotheeyesaviciousgleam——andsuddenlyhelaughedshortly。
“Why，yousedamnedfool，“jeeredtheWeasel，“d”youset”inkyousecangetawaywiddat！Say，takeitfromme，youseareapiker！
Say，yousemakemetired。Wotd”youset”inkyouseare？D”youset”inkdisisatee-ayter，an”datyouseareacheap-skateactorstrollin”acrostdestage？Aw，beatit，yousemakemesick！Why，say，yousepinchdatmoney，an”yousehavegotdesamechanstofgettin”outerdishotelasaguyhasofbreakin”outerSingSing！
Bydetimeyousegetsfivefeetfromdedoorofdisroomwehasdewholeworksonyerneck。”
“Doyouthinkso，Weasel？“inquiredJimmieDalepolitely。Hecarriedhishandkerchieftohismouthtocloakacough——andhistonguetouchedtheadhesivesideofthelittlediamond-shapedgrayseal。Handandhandkerchiefcamebacktothetable，andJimmieDaleleanedhisweightcarelesslyuponit，whiletheautomaticinhisrighthandstillcoveredthetwomen。“Doyouthinkso，Weasel？“herepeatedsoftly。“Well，perhapsyouareright；andyet；somehow，I
aminclinedtodisagreewithyou。Letmesee，Weasel——itwasTuesdaynight，twonightsago；wasn”tit，thatatriflingbreakinMaidenLaneatThoroldandSonsdisturbedthepolice？Itwasathree-yearjobforevenafirstoffender，tenforonealreadyonnoddingtermswiththepoliceandfifteentotwentyfor——well，say，foramanlikeyou，Weasel——IFHEWERECAUGHT！AmImakingmyselfquiteplain？“
ThecolourintheWeasel”scheeksfadedalittle——hiseyeswereholdinginsuddenfascinationuponJimmieDale。
“IseethatIam，“observedJimmieDalepleasantly。“Isaid，”ifhewerecaught”youwillremember。Iamgoingtoleavethisroominamoment，Weasel，andleaveitentirelytoyourdiscretionastowhetheryouwillthinkitwiseornottostirfromthatchairfortenminutesafterIshutthedoor。Andnow“——JimmieDalenonchalantlyreplacedhishandkerchiefinhispocket，nonchalantlyfolloweditwiththebanknoteswhichhepickedupfromthetable——
andsmiled。
