"Leave it alone," growled Brookes.
"Thanks very much," said Lake to the doctor. "I'll come up with you now and get it."
The three men rose. As they did so the pretty girl from Cincinnati stepped up to the doctor.
"Say, doctor—listen to me. Am I to give that man five dollars and a half for this?"
The doctor took the scarab in his hand and examined it.
"No, Miss Jocelyn," he said.
"Why not? I call that a dandy scarab. White amethyst. Genuine antique."
"It is not white amethyst and I know the man who made it—the day before yesterday. If you want it for a toy, ten piastres is an outside price. The man will take that."
"My!" exclaimed Miss Jocelyn. "Thank you vurry much," and she returned to her negotiations.
The three men passed through into the hall.