came and take instructions."

"A tradesman? Then I refuse!" cried Lupin, in an ecstasy of relief.

"No, you needn't keep him," said Guerchard, to Dieusy.

Dieusy went out and shut the door.

"You refuse?" said Guerchard.

"I refuse," said Lupin.

"I'm going to gaol that girl," said Guerchard savagely; and he took a
step towards the door.

"Not for long," said Lupin quietly. "You have no proof."

"She'll furnish the proof all right herself--plenty of proofs," said
Guerchard brutally. "What chance has a silly child like that got, when
we really start questioning her? A delicate creature like that will
crumple up before the end of the third day's cross-examination."

"You swine!" said Lupin. "You know well enough that I can do it--on my
head--with a feeble child like that; and you know your Code; five years
is the minimum," said Guerchard, in a tone of relentless brutality,
watching him carefully, sticking to his hope.

"By Jove, I could wring your neck!" said Lupin, trembling with fury. By
a violent effort he controlled himself, and said thoughtfully, "After
all, if I give up everything to you, I shall be free to take it back
one of these days."

"Oh, no doubt, when you come out of prison," said Guerchard ironically;
and he laughed a grim, jeering laugh.

"I've got to go to prison first," said Lupin quietly.

"Pardon me--if you accept, I mean to arrest you," said Guerchard.

"Manifestly you'll arrest me if you can," said Lupin.

"Do you accept?" said Guerchard. And again his voice quivered with
anxiety.

"Well," said Lupin. And he paused as if finally weighing the matter.

"Well?" said Guerchard, and his voice shook.

"Well--no!" said Lupin; and he laughed a mocking laugh.

"You won't?" said Guerchard between his teeth.

"No; you wish to catch me. This is just a ruse," said Lupin, in quiet,
measured tones. "At bottom you don't care a hang about Sonia,
Mademoiselle Kritchnoff. You will not arrest her. And then, if you did
you have no proofs. There ARE no proofs. As for the pendant, you'd have
to prove it. You can't prove it. You can't prove that it was in her
possession one moment. Where is the pendant?" He paused, and then went
on in the same quiet tone: "No, Guerchard; after having kept out of
your clutches for the last ten years, I'm not going to be caught to
save this child, who is not even in danger. She has a very useful
friend in the Duke of Charmerace. I refuse."

Guerchard stared at him,