The two ex-policemen had not expected anything so interesting as this, and their expressions were worthy of study.  They had been engaged, through a private agency, to assist and support an injured husband, and afterwards to appear as witnesses of a vulgar clandestine meeting, as they supposed.  It was not the first time they had been employed on such business, but they did not remember ever having had to deal with two persons who exhibited such hardened indifference; and though the incident of the notes was not new to them, they had never been in a case where the amount of cash received by the lady at one time was so very large.

‘It is needless,’ said the fair man, addressing them both, ’to ask what this money was for.’

‘Yes,’ said Mr. Van Torp coolly.  ’You needn’t bother.  But I’ll call your attention to the fact that the notes are not yours, and that I’d like to see them put back into that envelope and laid on that table before you go.  You broke into my house by force anyhow.  If you take valuables away with you, which you found here, it’s burglary in England, whatever it may be in your country; and if you don’t know it, these two professional gentlemen do.  So you just do as I tell you, if you want to keep out of gaol.’

The fair man had shown a too evident intention of slipping the envelope into his own pocket, doubtless to be produced in evidence, but Mr. Van Torp’s final argument seemed convincing.

’I have not the smallest intention of depriving my wife of the price of my honour, sir.  Indeed, I am rather flattered to find that you both value it so highly.’

Mr. Van Torp’s hard face grew harder, and a very singular light came into his eyes.  He moved forwards till he was close to the fair man.

‘None of that!’ he said authoritatively.  ’If you say another word against your wife in my hearing I’ll make it the last you ever said to anybody.  Now you’d better be gone before I telephone for the police.  Do you understand?’

The two ex-policemen employed by a private agency thought the case was becoming more and more interesting; but at the same time they were made vaguely nervous by Mr. Van Torp’s attitude.

‘I think you are threatening me,’ said the fair man, drawing back a step, and leaving the envelope on the table.

‘No,’ answered his adversary, ’I’m warning you off my premises, and if you don’t go pretty soon I’ll telephone for the police.  Is that a threat?’

The last question was addressed to the two men.

‘No, sir,’ answered one of them.

’It would hardly be to your advantage to have more witnesses of my wife’s presence here,’ observed the fair man coldly, ’but as I intend to take her home we may as well go at once.  Come, Maud!  The carriage is waiting.’

The lady, whose name was now spoken for the first time since she had entered Mr. Van Torp’s lodging, had not moved from the fireplace since she had taken up her position there.  Women are as clever as Napoleon or Julius Caesar in selecting strong positions when there is to be an encounter, and a fireplace, with a solid mantelpiece to lean against, to strike, to cry upon or to cling to, is one of the strongest.  The enemy is thus reduced to prowling about the room and handling knick-knacks while he talks, or smashing them if he is of a violent disposition.