Without further words, Mr. Mannering drew forth a small package, which he carefully opened, and, taking therefrom an exact duplicate of the wonderful gem, placed it upon the table beside the latter.

With a smile which the other did not see, Mr. Rosenbaum bent his head to examine the stones; he had recognized his man in the brief instant that their eyes had met, and now, within his grasp, lay, as he well knew from the description which he carried, two of the finest diamonds in the famous Mainwaring collection of jewels, stolen less than six months before; his triumph was almost complete.

Meanwhile, Mr. Johnson, who had overheard much of their conversation, was congratulating himself upon the near success of his own schemes, when the officiousness of a waiter overthrew the plans of all parties and produced the greatest confusion.  Catching sight of the gentleman waiting in No. 4, he ignored the cashier’s instructions and entered the box to take his order.  Mr. Johnson’s reply, low and brief though it was, caught the quick ear of Mr. Rosenbaum, who muttered under his breath,-

“The hoodoo! confound him!”

At the same instant a draught lifted the curtain to no. 3, revealing to the astonished Mannering a view of Mr. Johnson’s profile in the opposite box.  His own face grew white as the table-cloth before him; he reached wildly for the diamond, but both gems were gone, and Rosenbaum confronted him with a most sinister expression.

“My diamond!” he gasped.

“The diamonds are safe,” replied the other in a low tone, “and you,” addressing Mannering by his true name, “the more quiet you are just now the better.”

The elder man’s face grew livid with rage and fear, and, rising suddenly to his feet, his tall form towered far above Rosenbaum.

“Wretch!” he hissed, with an oath, “you have betrayed me, curse you!” and, dealing the smaller man a blow which floored him, he rushed from the box.

In an instant Rosenbaum staggered to his feet, and, pausing only long enough to make sure of the safety of the jewels, rushed from the café, reaching the street just in time to see his man jump into a cab, which whirled swiftly and started down the street at break-neck speed.  Two cabmen, talking at a short distance, hurried to the scene, and, calling one of them, Mr. Rosenbaum hastily took a second cab and started in pursuit of the first, but not before he had caught a glimpse of Mr. Johnson making active preparations to follow them both.

“Hang that fellow!” he muttered, as he heard wheels behind him.  “This is the third time he has spoiled the game; but I’ve got the winning hand, and he’ll not beat me out of it!”

By this time the first cab, having turned a corner a short distance ahead, was out of sight, but Rosenbaum, convinced from the direction taken of its destination, and knowing a more direct route, shouted to the driver what streets to follow, and to come out upon the alley near No. 545 Jefferson Street.