"I'm so glad we are to be friends," he said. "It hurt a lot to know you held me in contempt. But I had to go about it that way."
Eve nodded. Then, suddenly recollecting: "Oh," she exclaimed, reddening, "I forgot the jewel case! It's under my pillow——"
She turned and sped upstairs and reappeared almost instantly, carrying the jewel-case.
Breathless, flushed, thankful and happy in the excitement of restitution, she placed the leather case in Ricca's hands.
"My jewels!" cried the girl, astonished. Then, with a little cry of delight, she placed the case upon the table, stripped open the emblazoned cover, and emptied the two trays. All over the table rolled the jewels, flashing, scintillating, ablaze with blinding light.
And at the same instant the outer door crashed open and Quintana covered them with Darragh's rifle.
"Now, by Christ!" he shouted, "who stirs a finger shall go to God in one jump! You, my gendarme frien' — you, my frien' Smith — turn your damn backs — han's up high! — tha's the way! — now, ladies! — back away there — get back or I kill! — sure, by Jesus, I kill you like I would some white little mice!——"
With incredible quickness he stepped forward and swept the jewels into one hand — filled the pocket of his trousers, caught up every stray stone and pocketed them.
"You gendarme," he cried in a menacing voice, "you think you shall follow in my tack. Yes? I blow your damn head off if you stir before the hour. … After that — well, follow and be damn!"
Even as he spoke he stepped outside and slammed the door; and Darragh and Stormont leaped for it. Then the lout detonation of Quintana's rifle was echoed by the splintered rip of bullets tearing through the closed door; and both men halted in the face of the leaden hail.