Eny, and be an accessery after the fact does nottrouble you. As I told you before, all I have left is my good name,and now----!"
"Please!" I said.
He stared down at me.
"Certainly," he said. "Asked in that tone, Murder would be one ofthe easiest things I do. But I shall lock you in."
"Very well," I said meekly. And after I had described it--theLetter--to him he went out.
I had won, but my triumph was but sackcloth and ashes in my mouth.I had won, but at what a cost! Ah, how I wished that I might liveagain the past few days! That I might never have started on my Pathof Deception! Or that, since my intentions at the start had been soinocent, I had taken another photograph at the shop, which I hadfancied considerably but had heartlessly rejected because of no mustache.
He was gone for a long time, and I sat and palpatated. For what ifH. had returned early and found him and called in the Police?
But the latter had not occurred, for at ten minutes after one hecame back, eutering by the window from a fire-escape, and muchstreaked with dirt.
"Narrow escape, dear !" he observed, locking the window anddrawing the shade. "Just as I got it, your--er--gentleman friendreturned and fitted his key in the lock. I am not at all sure," hesaid, wiping his hands with his handkerchief, "that he will notregard the open window as a suspicious circumstance. He may be ofa low turn of mind. However, all's well that ends here in thisroom. Here it is."
I took it, and my heart gave a great leap of joy. I was saved.
"Now," he said, "we'll order a taxicab and get you home. And whileit is coming suppose you tell me the thing over agai.