"'It was a present from Maria,' he said, as I helped him into it. 'Her last. She said it was a real sable.'
"'She spoke truthfully,' I assured him. 'Now gather up these light articles and steer for the door as accurately as you can, while I gather up my inexpensive paletot and pay at the desk.'
"'If I had my way with this blasted restarong,' he observed with sudden venom,' I'd raze it to the ground!'
"I walked over to the desk. I was right in supposing that ninepence was the sum I should receive from the Esmeralda behind the brass barrier. But her eyes were bright and interrogated me: the brass trellis between us shone also with an unnatural lustre: I was dealing with another man's money, and it seemed incumbent on me to count the change twice, with care.
"While I was thus engaged, Farrell went past me for the door with the shuffle and hard breathing of an elephant pursued by a forest fire.
"'Hurry!' he gasped.
"'What is it?' I demanded, catching him up on the fifth stair.
"He panted. 'I couldn't help it.… Sodom and Gomorrah … basaltic, I've heard… we'd better run!'
"'What the devil have you done?' I asked, close to his ear.
"'Opened that stink-pot,' Farrell answered, taking two steps at a time. He gained the pavement and paused, turning on me.