“Not all at once,” answered madame, softly, and purring about her victim like a cat. “Say one ear-ring or the breast-pin for the papers, and the other ring when that girl is—is asleep, you know.”
Jane shook her head, and grasped the ear-rings closer in her hand, gazing upon them with hungry eyes.
“No, no, I’d rather leave the breast-pin, and take both ear-rings.”
Madame took the casket from her visitor’s hand, and half-closed it.
“If I give both rings for the papers, there is no depending on the rest. No, no; take one, and come back for the mate when the whole job is finished.”
“But what good will one ring do me?” cried Jane, almost with tears in her eyes. “I can’t wear it!”
“But you will soon be after the mate,” answered madame, holding up the ring in her claw-like fingers, and making the pendants tinkle before the longing eyes of her guest. “In three days they will both be yours.”
“Yes! but what if it can’t be done? Some people never will die without a tussle for it. What good will this be to me then?”
“You can sell it for three hundred dollars, or pawn it.”
“Three hundred dollars!” cried Jane, incredulously.