d; "let's get away."

"Without the diamonds--now?"

"I'm no use," groaned the younger man.

"Hold up, curse you! It's fortune of war. One man down. Prize-money
to divide between two instead of three."

"Hah!" ejaculated the other, upon whom his comrade's words acted like
magic. "I'm all sight, now. Quick! let's have 'em!"

The elder man had already thrust his hand into Mark's breast.

"Well?"

"All right."

"Are they there?"

"Yes; safe enough."

"Get 'em out, then, and let's go. Curse it! Look at old Roger's eyes."

There was a dull heavy sound of a door banged, and the two men started
up in an agony of dread that the spoil for which they had toiled so
patiently and long, never getting it within their clutch till now, was
about to be snatched away.

It was a door that had been banged, and in their ignorance of the
configuration of the place they did not realise that it was in the next
house.

"Keep your head," said the elder man.

"Right. I'm cool enough," was the reply. "Quick! get 'em out, and
let's go!"

"It would take half an hour to get at them. He has a belt buckled round
his waist under everything, and there'll be stones sewn into his clothes
all over."

"Curse it all!"

"Hush! Quick! Take hold of that ulster, and there's his hat."

"What are you going to do?"

"We've got him. He's drugged, and we can do what we like."

"What! bring him away?"

"Yes. Quick! take hold of that arm!"

"But if he wakes?"

"Send him to sleep, as we did the doctor. Now, held your row, do as I
do, and keep your head."

The younger man obeyed, and catching Mark Heath's arm, as his companion
had done on the other side, they placed his hat upon his head, and in a
half-conscious way he made an effort to walk, so that they had no
difficulty in getting him into the surgery.

"Now, then, button-up. I'll hold him," said the elder man.

"But when we get him in the street?" whispered the other.

"Well--what? He's drunk. We'll get him in a cab. No one will
interfere. Leave it to me, and back me up. Quick! shut that door; and
then turn on the light."

The orders were obeyed; and as soon as they stood in the darkness the
lobby-door was opened, where the red light gave them sufficient
illumination to finish their proceedings.

Another minute, and, their victim's arm well gripped on either side, the
elder man said hoarsely, "Ready?"

"Yes; but are you sure that he had the stuff on him?"