"Devil the bit I care! Stay here and keep this impetuous female from calling up Police Headquarters, for a good guess…. Speaking of which, I think we had best settle this telephone business once and for all."
The burglar turned again to the desk and began to work over the instrument with a small screwdriver which he produced from his coat pocket, talking the while.
"Our best plan, my dear Bannerman, is for you to come with me, at least as far as the nearest corner. You can wait there, if you're too cowardly to go the limit, like a man…. I'll get the loot and join you, and we can make a swift hike for the first train that goes farthest out of town…. A pity, for we've done pretty well, you and I, old boy: you with your social entrée and bump of locality to locate the spoils, me with my courage and skill to lift 'em, and an equitable division…. Oh, don't worry about her, Bannerman! She's as deep in it as either of us, only she happens to be sentimental, and an outsider on this deal. She won't blab. Besides, you're ruined anyway, as far as New York's concerned…. Come along. That's finished: she won't send any important messages over that wire to-night, I guess."
"My dear young lady!" Rising and throwing the overcoat over his arm, he waved his hat at her in sardonic courtesy. "I can't say it has been a pleasure to know you but—you have made it interesting, I admit. And I bid you a very good night. The charwoman will let you out when she comes to clean up in the morning. Adieu, my dear!"
The little man bustled after him, bleating and fidgeting; and the lock clicked.
She was alone … utterly and forlornly alone … and had lost … lost all, all that she had prized and hoped to win, even … even him….
She raised fluttering, impotent white hands to her temples, trying to collect herself. In the outer room a clock was ticking. Unconsciously she moved to the doorway and stood looking for a time at the white, expressionless dial. It was some time—a minute or two—before she deciphered the hour.
Ten minutes past two!… Ah, the lifetime she had lived in the past seventy minutes! And the futility of it all!