"Ah, as for her—she must be waiting for the return of her beloved friend.... I do not advise you to pay her a visit!"
"Be silent, chatter-box!" ordered the masked assassin sharply. "Get rid of your clothes.... We must hurry!... We have work to do!"
"This evening?"
"This evening!"
And, whilst the diamond broker rid himself rapidly of skirt and bodice and regained his masculine appearance—for this diamond broker was a man—the masked assassin added:
"Nibet, you have played your part perfectly, and I will pay you to-morrow the sum we agreed on; but, I repeat, we have work before us this evening—so, be quick!"
There was a short silence, then the bandit asked:
"You have arranged to put among this fool's papers the rent receipts, which will enable the police to find this flat?"
"Yes, master!"
"Good! Now all we have to do, is to get away from this room, which we shall not see again ... until this evening at any rate!"