"Have you ever been associated with him before?"
"Never, monsieur. My record is there." And he again jerked his thumb towards the volume on the table. "It will tell you that I deal in small affairs. Dubois is an artist. If he found a woman's purse in the street he would return it to her with a bow, if she were rich and handsome—and with some francs added, if she were poor."
"I know little about him," he continued, "except that he is a great man. They say that he once robbed the Bank of France of 200,000 francs!"
And the little wretch's voice became tremulous with admiration as he recounted the legend.
"He is a favoured lover of La Belle Chasseuse?" demanded Brett sharply.
"The Worm" recovered his equanimity somewhat at this question. He softly drew his hand over his chin as he replied with a smirk: "There are others!"
"I think not," came the quick retort. "No; there are none on whom mademoiselle bestows such favours. She left Paris with him last night."
"The devil!" ejaculated the little man.
"Oh, yes; and she has just passed a fortnight with him in London."