word 'married.' He'd only laugh--or vorse."

"All right! But he ain't our master any more. We can do without him."

"Maybe he von't tink he can do vidout us."

"He'll _have_ to, when we get something good on the pearls. And say, I
never thought you could kill any one and feel no more than I do now.
Churn, if you'd been there, you'd 'a' settled his hash long before I
did. The things he said to me--and me your wife! It makes me sick to
think o' them--and of him, the low beast!"

"Don't tink, den. Tink of me."

"I do. I love you, Boy! The minute I lamped the pearls--when I sensed
they was real--I meant to get 'em, for you and me to set up house far
away somewheres on our own. We can go to Buenos Aires or some place
south, where they love a nice voice like yours, so you won't feel
wasted. If Chuff knew what we've got here in this table drawer!"

"Better tie 'em up in your handkerchief again. If Chuff----"

"Oh, Chuff nothing! I feel in my bones, now he's so late, he won't come
home to-night. I don't care what happens to Chuff. Let's go to bed."

"No--not yet. I vait."

"Peterson thought he could say what he liked to me, the pig!" Kit went
on. "Well, he's paid. His blood's on his own head. Oh, Churn, it was on
his head, every sense o' the word! I didn't like the look of it--turned
me sick! Lucky my long cloak was in the room. See--on my dress, two
stains! Boy, that trunk stunt was awful. You've got to let me go to bed
and sleep, or I believe I'll have hysterics and yell the house down. I
thought I was all right since I found you, but it's comin' on again,
that tremblin'!"

"Go to bed, den, girl. I vait. Dat's easy."

"I will. Just one more look at the pearls--our pearls! But I lost one. I
heard it roll. It was so close to him I--I couldn't----"

"Don't you care. Dere's a lot for us. We'll count 'em first ting
to-morra', ven ve both feel like ourselves."

"They ought to fetch a king's ransom, Boy."

"Dey vill not, den. Dere'll be all de bulls in N'York after em. Joke on
us, dough, if Chuff was in de deal mit Pete!"

"I'm sure he wasn't--dead sure."

Silence fell. When the pair spoke again it was of other things. At last
Clo fell suddenly fast asleep, on the floor. She knew that Beverley's
pearls were in the next room. That had to be enough for the night.

* * * * *

The girl slept till dawn. Waking, she was astonished to find herself on
the floor, and for an instant could no