Arthur, uttering his first oath with cool
nonchalance; "I don't know whether he's found it out or not, and care
less."

"You'd have to care, I reckon, if he did find it out, though," returned
the other. "Don't you see the store is liable to be entered any night,
if a clever fellow happened to find that key? You see the number of the
store and all is on it."

Arthur walked on for a moment in silence, then replied:

"If a 'clever fellow,' as you say, had found it, and wanted to use it
for such a purpose, he'd have been in, I guess, before now--that key
has been gone a month or more."

"Aye, but the nights have been too fine; starlight or moonlight all the
while; and may be he is waiting for the new stock of goods, who knows?"

"Well, if that's going to happen," said Arthur, earnestly, "I only hope
it will not come just yet; I've got trouble enough for one season."

"Trouble! what have you got to trouble you, I'd like to know? But I
forgot, you haven't told me what occurred to-day; and that's just what I
come after you for, to find out."

"Well, I may as well tell you, I suppose, if you are so anxious to know.
Delancey, I don't believe, will keep it to himself, and you may as well
know it from me as him."

"Never hope for him to keep anything secret that could hurt a body; I
never knew him to screen a clerk's faults yet. He is of the opinion that
to make the matter public, is the best way to ensure better luck next
time. Let's step in here, and take something refreshing; and you can
tell me the story over our glasses."

Arthur complied, and entering one of those gorgeous saloons, which can
be found in almost every block of the Crescent City, Quirk stepped to
the counter, and ordered a bottle of wine, and, in an under-tone,
added:--"A private apartment, also, if you have one empty."

The clerk, who was a portly, sensual-faced, red-haired man, raised his
brows, and, tipping a sly wink at Quirk, said:--"Up stairs or down?"

"Both, perhaps," returned the other, with a laugh; "but if we want an
upper one, we'll let you know. Down stairs for the present."

The man had by this time lighted a lamp, at the wick of which he had
been working for some time, and taking the bottle of wine, he led the
way into the back part of the saloon, where was a door partially
concealed by red moreen hangings. He shoved aside the curtain, and
passed into a long vestibule, elegantly furnished, with doors opening on
each side, not unlike