“I hear what you say,” Virginia answered.  “May I ask what you intend to do?”

“To break open this desk, if necessary,” Mr. Weiss said, “and to find our way somehow or other into the interior of the coffer where these papers are.”

“And supposing I tell you,” she answered calmly, “that I shall not permit a second burglary in this room within twenty-four hours?”

Higgins came forward.

“Miss Virginia,” he said, “pardon me, Miss Longworth, you look like a sensible young woman.  I believe you are.  Consider our position.  Our whole future as men of influence and character depends upon certain papers, of which your uncle had charge, being kept absolutely secret.  We entrusted him with the care of them in health, but we are not prepared to let them stay here now that he is lying upstairs dangerously ill, and one attempt to steal them has already been made.  Take the case at its worst; if your uncle should die, a seal would be put upon all his effects, and nothing in the world could stop those documents becoming public property.  You can’t realize what that would mean to us.  It would mean ruin not only to ourselves, but to hundreds of others.  It would mean a panic in all the money-markets of the world.  We only meant that paper to remain in existence for a matter of twenty-four hours.  We are fully determined that it shall not remain in this room any longer, guarded or unguarded.  Can’t you sympathize with us?  Don’t you see the position we are in?”

“Whatever is in this room,” Virginia said, “is safe until my uncle is well enough to decide what shall be done.  While he remains in his present condition I shall not allow anything to be disturbed.”

“You have relations,” Higgins said to her meaningly, “whom you would like to help.  One could not offer to bribe you.  Don’t think that I mean anything of the sort.  But between us we will give one hundred thousand dollars for those papers, and I guarantee that when your uncle recovers he will be quite willing to give you another hundred thousand for having been sensible enough to let us have them.”

Virginia turned her back upon him.

“This is not a matter,” she said, “if you please, Mr. Weiss, which I can discuss with you or your friend.  I cannot let you stay in this room.  If you will not go away, I must ring for the servants.”

Higgins made a sudden movement, as though to seize her by the arms, but she was too quick for him.  She wheeled suddenly round, and something very small but very deadly looking flashed out in her hand.

“You will force me,” she said, “to treat you like thieves.  I know that you are not, but I shall treat you as though you were if you don’t leave this room.  Don’t think that this is a toy either,” she continued.  “Revolver shooting was one of our favourite recreations up in the country.  Will you get up from that desk, Mr. Weiss?”

He stooped down and tried one of the keys from his bunch.  Virginia did not hesitate.  She pulled the trigger of her revolver, and a bullet whistled only a few inches from his head.  He sprang upright in a minute.