ready to answer at command, he did not venture to leave the spot where
he stood.

"Now," said his master, "when you get your tongue your story will be
just the same as Mr. Waring's. You found him getting away with the
silver. The probabilities are all with you, Ruggles. The police will
be here in just about five minutes. Ten to one the guilty man is known
to the officers. Now there's an overcoat and hat on the hat-rack in
the hall. I give both of you time to get away. There's the front door
and the window--which, by the way, you would better shut, Waring, as
it's a cold morning."

Neither man moved. Without removing his eyes from the butler or
uncovering him, Bulstrode, by means of the messenger-call to the right
of the window, summoned the police. The metallic click of the button
sounded loud in the room.

Ruggles shook his great hand high in air.

"I'd--I'd----"

"Never mind _that_," interrupted the householder. "The man who's
_going_ had better take his chance. There's one minute lost."

During the next half-second the modern philanthropist breathed in
suspense. It was so on the cards that he might be obliged to apologize
to his antipathetic butler and find himself sentimentally sold by
Waring!

But Ruggles it was who with a parting oath stepped to the
door--accelerating his pace as the daze began to pass a little from his
brain, and snatched the hat and coat, unlocked the front door, opened
it, looked quickly up and down the white streets, and then without a
word cut down the steps and across Washington Square, slowly at first,
and then on a run.

Bulstrode turned to his visitor.

"Come," he said, "let's go up to bed."

"But," stammered the young man, "you're never going to let him go like
that?"

"Yes, I am," confessed the unpractical gentleman. "I couldn't send a
man to jail on Christmas day."

"But the police----?"

"I shall tell them out of my window that it was a false alarm."

Bulstrode shut and locked his door, and turning to Waring, laughed
delightedly.

"I must tell you that when he let you in last night Ruggles did not
think you were a gentleman. He must have found out this morning that
you were very much of a man. It's astonishing where you got your
strength, though. He'd make two of you, and you're not fit in any way."

He looked ghastly enough as Bulstrode spoke, and the gentleman put his
arm under the Englishman's. "I'll ring for the servants and have some
coff