“Well, I don’t know that I can blame you,” said Nick, “but I want to know for sure that the woman is gone.”
“She’s gone, all right.”
“Well, take me through the house, and let me be certain.”
“There can’t be any harm in that,” said one. “Go ahead quietly, me and Smithy’ll go behind.”
Thus escorted, Nick went through and made sure the Brown Robin had fled the house.
After all, it was a vulgar trap which had been laid for him.
He returned to the parlors and sat down a while. Then he asked one of the men to open a window and let a little air in.
When this was done, he took some cigars from his pocket and handed them to his guards.
Then he went to the piano, and, seating himself, to the great pleasure of the three brutes, he sang:
“Come to me, darling, I’m lonely without thee,