"Listen to me," said the first voice; "you are to bring a bundle to the side door at five o'clock. The nurse will let you in, and show you the closet under the staircase. There you'll stay until the house is locked up and everything settled for the night. After the children are asleep and the grown people quieted by the drugged coffee—say when the convent bell strikes ten—you will slip out and, unlocking the side door, let me in. I have a plan of the house, and know where everything of value is kept. We'll get a good, rich pull, and skip."
"You're certain no harm will come from spiking the drink?"
"Not if she obeys orders; it'll give 'em a bully night's rest; that's all."
"How'll I know when it's safe to come out?"
"She says if anything happens not down on the books she'll come past your hiding-place, and give two taps like this" (tapping). "In that case you'll wait till you hear further."
"You'll be there to help, if I get caught? You won't slump?"
"Me? Never! Ain't I always been a man of honour?"
"They say old Morton's mighty game when once roused."
"But he won't be if we can help it; in case he is, and shows fight, why then we'll have to——"
The rest of the sentence was lost, and the two men departed.