Higgins grunted, and poured himself out a glass of wine.

“You fellows have got the nerves,” he said contemptuously.  “You’re imagining things like a pack of frightened women.  Duge can’t swallow us up, even if he tumbled to our game.  I don’t believe there’s anything in this funk of yours.  As to signing that paper, well, we’ve got to run the Government of this country, as well as a good many other things, if the Government won’t leave us alone.  Duge’s name is on it right enough, but if you fellows are really going to shake all day about it, let’s have the paper, even if we blow up the house.  I’ll send for Danes to-night.  We’ll meet him down town somewhere—­two of us, no more—­and see what he can suggest.  If we get that paper, and Duge’s illness isn’t a sham, he’ll come downstairs to face the biggest smash that any man in New York has ever dreamed of, and serve him d——­d well right.  I’m sick of the fellow and his ways.  For every million we’ve scooped, he’s scooped two.  Every deal we’ve been into, he’s had a little the best of us.  We are going to get our own back, but for Heaven’s sake don’t let us spoil the game because you fellows have got the shivers.  We’ll have another bottle of wine, and right after lunch I shall telephone down for Danes.  Now let’s chuck it.  There’s little Simpson and Henderson watching us like cats.  They’ll think we’ve got caught on something, or that we are going on the market.  Eat your luncheon, and don’t forget my supper-party to-night.  The whole crowd from the Eden Theatre are coming.  I only hope the reporters don’t get hold of it.”

* * * * *

A few hours later Virginia was summoned to her uncle’s room.  As she entered the door she passed a small, insignificant-looking man, plainly dressed, and of somewhat servile appearance, whom she remembered to have seen about the place several times since her arrival.  He glanced at her in passing, and Virginia saw that his eyes, at any rate, were keen enough.  She found her uncle, now fully dressed, walking up and down the room, with his hands behind his back.

“I have just had news of our friends, Virginia,” he remarked.  “They are evidently very much in earnest.  If they can’t get hold of that paper by strategy, they are going to try and steal it.”

“Won’t that be a little difficult?” she asked.

He smiled.

“More difficult than they imagine.  The coffer itself is an inch thick, and the lock will stand anything but dynamite.  However, I hear that they’ve engaged a professional burglar, so we ought to get some amusement out of it.”

“How did you hear this?” she asked.

“The little man who has just gone out,” he answered.  “He is one of Pinkerton’s detectives, or rather he was.  He is in my service now, and spends most of his time watching these precious friends of mine.  I expect they will make the attempt to-night.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked.  “Send for the police?”