Brunow; "you may
go now and take your chance in earnest."

Roncivalli was a man of daring, and had more than once given proofs of
courage; but he turned white at my words, and Brunow shrank back in the
crowd with a face all ghastly gray, with his teeth gleaming behind his
trembling lips. Through all the hurry and bustle of the scene the hotel
manager was vainly urging the startled occupants of the house to return
to their own chambers. Then, with a sudden leap of the heart, I heard a
voice outside:

"Be good enough to make way for me."

"Come along!" cried the officer; "hand me that bag, and have done with
it. I know my duty, and I've got force enough behind me."

"Wait a moment," I answered; "here is the owner of the money. Make way
for Miss Rossano, and drive all those curious people away."

I saw the crowd divide, and Violet came in, looking about her
wonderingly. I stood there manacled, holding out the stolen money in my
extended hands. She gave one swift glance of astonishment, and closed
the door, leaving us alone, except for the officer and the hotel
manager. Hinge, conscious of his dishabille, had retreated at the moment
of her entrance.

"My aunt has been robbed, John," she said, looking at me with wondering
eyes-- "robbed of forty thousand pounds!"

"And I," I answered, "am the thief, and here is the money."

"You the thief!" She fixed me with her eyes that have always seemed like
stars of fate to me, and I saw a shadow of dreadful pain and wonder on
her face. "You the thief!" she repeated.

"Yes," I answered; "I stole this money from Lady Rollinson five minutes
ago." What with the certainty of triumph in my purpose, the surety of
being immediately understood, and the joy of seeing her so unexpectedly
again, I laughed outright. "I hand you back your own, dear. Take charge
of it till you have heard my story. Sit down, and I will tell you
everything."

"Is this your property, mum?" the officer asked, setting both hands on
the bag as I set it on the table.

"I believe so," said Violet. "I gave the sum of forty thousand pounds
into the charge of my aunt, Lady Rollinson, yesterday morning?"

"Then of course," said the policeman, "you give the person in charge?"

Violet looked at me with dancing eyes, and never in all my life have
I known such pride and joy as that glance afforded me. There I stood
before her, taken red-handed in the act, handcuffed, and openly
confessing with my own lips my own dee