Lupin for a moment pulled back one of the leaves of the screen, revealing the heap of dresses and bed-clothes which he had laid out on the sofa:
"She's here, fainting. But I shan't give her up till we've divided."
"You can take it or leave it. I don't care if I am alone. You know what I'm good for. So please yourselves. . . ."
The men consulted with one another and the Broker said:
"Where is the hiding-place you're talking of?"
"Under the fireplace. But, when you don't know the secret, you must first lift up the whole chimneypiece, looking-glass, marble and all in a lump, it seems. It's no easy job."
"Pooh, we're a smart lot, we are! Just you wait and see. In five minutes . . ."
He gave his orders and his pals at once set to work with admirable vigor and discipline. Two of them, standing on chairs, tried to lift the mirror. The four others attacked the fireplace itself. The Broker, on his knees, kept his eyes on the hearth and gave the word of command:
"Cheerily, lads! . . . Altogether, if you please! . . . Look out! . . . One, two . . . ah, there, it's moving! . . ."