"You might. It would be quite safe with me. So long as you kept your breath. Think I'm a match for Peterssen?"
"For a dozen Peterssens. You're a gem of the first water. I've hardly got over it."
"Don't think any more of it. Plenty of time by and by. Always knew I was cut out for this sort of thing. Let's to business. You see what I've done. What have you done?"
"I have got the girl."
"Good. Sharp! Clever! Cool!"
"You shall see her; she will be here soon."
Then I related to him everything I knew of Sophy, and dwelt especially upon her behavior on the night of the disappearance of the body of M. Felix, which I could see made a powerful impression upon him.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "Got pluck, that girl. Seems just the article we want."
His admiration increased when I told him of the expedient suggested by Sophy to keep her lack of education from the knowledge of Dr. Peterssen's people.
"She's a nugget," he said. "Take quite an interest in her already. Possibilities in that girl. She will come through this affair with flying colors."