"Yes."
"All right, I am going to take in the meeting upstairs."
Oscar drew his mask lantern, slipped into the opening after a thorough examination of the whole contrivance and then he said:
"Close the door, old man, close the door."
The door did close and immediately our hero opened it. He looked out and said:
"Play very close to-night, Credo: don't let your customers, if you have any, fall to us."
"The people are all at a ball. I'll have no visitors to-night except it may be a straggler."
"All right, close the door."
Oscar believed he had taken every precaution, and indeed he had; and under all the circumstances he was very cool, but for him it was a big night and the most important consequences were destined to follow, and he knew it.
With his lantern properly adjusted he ascended the stairs and in good time arrived at the place where he was to take in his news. He had been fully instructed and he found everything just as the man Credo had stated. Well, the arrangement was indeed a good one, and he mentally concluded: