“Piragoff licked his lips.  ‘Aha!’ said he, ’I am that sort of fool myself.’  He laughed uneasily, being evidently sorry he had spoken, and continued: 

“‘And you can get all this when you want it, hein?  But where is it now?’

“I smiled slyly.  ’It is in a sort of private museum; but where that museum is I am not going to say, or perhaps I may find it empty when I call.’

“Piragoff looked at me earnestly.  He had evidently written me down an abject fool—­and no wonder—­and was considering how to manage me.

“’But this place—­this museum—­it must be a strong place.  How are you going to get in?  Will you ring the bell?’

“‘I shall let myself in with a latch-key,’ I said jauntily.

“‘Have you got the latch-key?’

“‘Yes, and I have tried it.  I had it from a friend who lives there.’

“Piragoff laughed outright.  ’And she gave you the latch-key, hein?  Ha-ha! but you are a wicked old man.  And it is strange too.’  He glanced from me to his reflection in the little mirror over the safe; and his expression said as plainly as words, ’Now, if she had given it to me, one could understand it.’

“‘But,’ he continued, ’when you are inside?  The stuff will be locked up.  You are skilful, perhaps?  You can open a safe, for instance?  You have tried?’

“’No, I’ve never actually tried, but it’s easy enough.  I’ve often opened packing cases.  And I don’t think there is an iron safe.  They are wooden cabinets.  It will be quite easy.’

“‘Bah!  Packing cases!’ exclaimed Piragoff.  He grasped my coat sleeve excitedly.  ’I tell you, my friend, it is not easy.  It is very difficult.  I tell you this.  I, who know.  I am not in the line myself, but I have a friend who does these things and he has shown me.  I have some skill—­though I practice only for sport, you understand.  It is very difficult.  You shall let yourself in, you shall find the stuff locked up, you shall try to open the cabinet and you shall only make a great noise.  Then you shall come away empty, like a fool, and the police shall set a watch on the house.  The chance is gone and you have nothing.’

“I scratched my head like the fool that he thought me.  ’That would be rather awkward,’ I admitted.

“‘Awkward!’ he exclaimed.  ’It would be wicked!  The chance of a lifetime gone!  Now, if you take with you a friend who has skill—­hein?’

“‘Ah!’ I said craftily, ’but this is my little nest egg.  If I take a friend I shall have to share.’

“’But there is enough for two.  If your safe will not hold it, there is more than you can carry.  Besides, your friend shall not be greedy.  If he takes a third—­or say a quarter?  How much is the stuff worth?’

“‘The collection is said to be worth a hundred thousand pounds.’

“‘A hundred thousand!’ gasped Piragoff.  He was almost foaming at the mouth.  ’A hundred thousand!  That would be twenty five for me—­for your friend—­and seventy-five for you.  It is impossible for one man.  You could not carry it.  My friend,’ again he grasped my sleeve persuasively, ’I will come with you.  I am very skilful.  I am strong.  I am brave.  You shall be safe with me.  I will be your comrade and you shall give a quarter—­or even less if you like.’