estic."

"So it would appear, madam. I am afraid that you are doing me too much
honor, for one who has been so short a time among you."

"Bah! I am glad to have somebody who can talk decently near me. I tire
of all these ragamuffins who are my men. Sometimes I kill one of them
just for the mere fun of ridding myself of the vermin."

"Madam is incautious, perhaps."

"Why so?"

"Some day one of them might take it into his head to kill madam."

"Then somebody will have to be mighty quick about it. I'm not so easily
killed as all that. Tell me--have you guessed who I am?"

"I am not a good guesser, madam."

"On the contrary, I should suppose you to be a good one--an
exceptionally good one. Answer me: Have you guessed who I am?"

"I might make a guess now, madam."

"Oh, drop that madam. I don't want you to madam me all the time. Who do
you suppose I am?"

"If I am to make a guess, I should suppose that you are that
distinguished and elusive person whom the outside world refers to as
Hobo Harry."

She laughed long and heartily, stirring her coffee vigorously the while.

"Upon my word, you are a good one," she said, still with laughter in her
voice. "Yes, I am that distinguished and elusive person. There is no
doubt about that. I have spent a long time in bringing this organization
to perfection, Dago. What do you think of it?"

"I think it is a wonder."

"Right you are, my man! It is a wonder. For example, what did you think
of the operation that was performed last night?"

"I thought it was carried out very perfectly. The men must have been a
long time in laying their plans."

She laughed again.

"Not one of those men--not even Handsome--had ever seen that place
before. They only obeyed my orders; nothing more. I made the plans
myself. I told them exactly what to do, and when, and how to do it. It
is all a question of mathematics, and of obeying orders."

"It was perfectly done, madam."

"There you go again. By the way, Handsome gives me an excellent report
of you."

"I had supposed as much, else I would not be here breakfasting with
you."

"That is not why I sent for you; that has nothing to do with last
night."

"No?"

"I want you to tell me where I have seen you before--and where you have
met me before," she said swiftly, and with a sudden and dangerous
narrowing of her eyes.

If Nick had not had himself perfectly in hand he must have given a start
then that would have betrayed him; as i