“Steal the diamonds yourself before the Mole gets to work,” she proposed calmly.
Billy Kane’s gasp was wholly genuine.
“What?” he ejaculated.
“You’ve plenty of time,” she said sweetly. “Vetter’s isn’t far from here, and it’s not much more than half past seven now. The diamonds can be returned to Vetter tomorrow. After having had them stolen once, I think Vetter could be trusted to put them somewhere where neither the Mole nor anyone else would be likely to succeed a second time.”
“But I don’t know where the diamonds are now!” His voice was helpless in spite of himself.
She lifted her shoulders.
“Neither do I,” she said imperturbably.
“Well, you’ve got your nerve!” he burst out—and it was Billy Kane, not the Rat, who spoke.
The interview, as far as she was concerned, was evidently at an end. She had resumed her frugal meal, and was picking daintily at the sandwich on her plate. Her eyebrows arched.
“I hope you’ve got yours,” she murmured.