"Thank you, darling,"
So he murmured, and he kissed her.
"You will meet me again to-morrow night to tell me how the fortune fares?"
He tried to avoid doing so; but the effort only failed--he had to wince. He could only hope that she did not notice it.
"I will, my darling--on the pier."
"And mind you're punctual!"
"I promise you I'll be punctual to a second."
CHAPTER V
[IN THE BODEGA]
As Mr. Paxton walked away from the house in which the two ladies resided, it was with the consciousness strong upon him that his position had not been made any easier by what he had said to the lady of his love, not to speak of that lady's friend. Before he had met Miss Strong he had been, comparatively, free--free, that is, to return the diamonds to their rightful owner. Now, it seemed to him, his hands were tied--he himself had tied them. He had practically committed himself to a course of action which could only point in one direction, and that an ugly one.