“I am sorry,” Phineas Duge said calmly, “to have inconvenienced you, but, of course, a person who becomes a receiver of stolen goods is always liable to a little affair of this sort.  You are quite at liberty to ring the bell now if you like, and to make complaints about us.  My methods may have seemed to you a little melodramatic, but as a matter of fact they are entirely commonplace.  These two gentlemen are connected with the American police, and it may interest you to know that we have with us warrants for the arrest both of yourself and my daughter, Miss Stella Duge, on the charge of theft and conspiracy.  All that we have done here has been quite legal, except that we should have been accompanied by a gentleman from Scotland Yard, with whose presence we preferred to dispense.  You can make what complaints you like, and I shall immediately apply for your extradition.  In any case I expect to do so to-morrow or the next day, if a certain document is not forthcoming.  You see I am placing myself in your hands.  You have time even now to cable its contents to New York before the warrant can be executed.”

Norris Vine was busy tying his tie, and waited for a moment until he had arranged it to his satisfaction.  Then he turned round.

“I can assure you,” he said, “I had not the slightest intention of making any complaint with regard to your doings here.  In fact, I can truthfully say that I have rather enjoyed the whole proceeding.  To tell you the truth,” he continued, moving across the room and taking a cigarette from the mantelpiece and lighting it, “when I heard that you were in England, I was exceedingly curious to know what your methods would be.  ‘Phineas Duge the Invincible’ they have called you.  I knew that you came over here because you had entered in a fresh alliance with your gang, and I knew therefore that you came over to get back that document.  I imagine that if you can get it you can make your own terms with them.  I must say that I have been exceedingly curious to know what your methods would be in approaching me.  Littleson could suggest nothing better than a bribe and a common burglary.  There is something much more attractive about the way you have opened the proceedings.  I consider that this little affair, for instance, has been most artistic.  If you have not discovered what you sought, you have at least discovered the fact that it is not here.  That gives you something to start upon.  How kind of your assistants!  I see that they are putting my room straight again.”

Phineas Duge nodded.  He showed no disappointment at the ill-success of this first effort, and he was watching Vine all the time curiously.

“Your further plan of operations,” Vine continued, “is again worthy of you.  I believe all that you say.  I believe that you have the warrants, and I believe that you could easily obtain an extradition order.  On the other hand, I am perfectly well aware that this is only a feint.  It is a good scheme up to a certain point, of course, although neither your daughter nor myself could be convicted of conspiracy without the production of what we are supposed to have stolen.  Still, as I said, it is a good feint, and it has made me curious.  I wonder what your real scheme is!  I do not think that you will tell me that.”