She stared at him. “Is it phony?”
“No—but I want it. Here’s another.” As he took a fresh bill from his pocket-book he discovered to his surprise that the marked bill, together with the few dollars in change he had received after his purchase in the shop below, was all that he now had left in his pocket. He remembered that he had intended to draw on his funds that morning. His departure from New York had been hurried, and he had come away with little ready cash.
Madame Alia slipped the bill into her bosom and waited. She knew well enough that her visitor had some demand to make.
“Now,” said Orme, “I am going to use your fire-escape for a little while.”
The woman nodded.
“I want you to keep all visitors out,” he continued. “Don’t answer the bell. I may want to come back this way quick.”
“This is straight business, isn’t it? I don’t want to get into no trouble.”
“Absolutely straight,” said Orme. “All you have to do is to leave your window open and keep quiet.”
“You can count on me,” she said. “Perhaps you know all about the place down there, but if you don’t, I’ll tell you that the fire-escape leads into his reception-room.”
Orme smiled. “You seem to be acquainted with your neighbor, after all.”