y, eh? Do you think I am fool enough
to cut his throat? Well, Senor Gendarme, what are you doing here in the
Dump of Clinch?"

Then Stormont's voice, clear and quiet: "What are _you_ doing here? If
you've a quarrel with Clinch, he's not here. There's only a young girl
in this house."

"So?" said Quintana. "Well, that is what I expec', my frien'. It is
thees lady upon whom I do myse'f the honour to call!"

Eve, listening, heard Stormont's rejoinder, still, calm, and very grave:

"The man who lays a finger on that young girl had better be dead. He's
as good as dead the moment he touches her. There won't be a chance for
him. ... Nor for any of you, if you harm her."

"Calm youse'f, my frien'," said Quintana. "I demand of thees young lady
only that she return to me the property of which I have been rob by
Monsieur Clinch."

"I knew nothing of any theft. Nor does she----"

"Pardon: Senor Clinch knows, and I know." His tone changed,
offensively: "Senor Gendarme, am I permit to understan' that you are a
frien' of thees young lady? -- a heart-frien', per'aps----"

"I am her friend," said Stormont bluntly.

"Ah," said Quintana, "then you shall persuade her to return to me thees
packet of which Monsieur Clinch has rob me."

There was a short silence, then Quintana's voice again:

"I know thees packet is conceel in thees house. Peaceably, if possible,
I would recover my property. ... If she refuse----"

Another pause.

"Well?" inquired Stormont, coolly.

"Ah! It is ver' painful to say. Alas, Senor Gendarme, I mus' have my
property. ... If she refuse, then I mus' sever one of her pretty
fingers. ... An' if she still refuse -- I sever her pretty fingers one
by one, until----"

"You know what would happen to _you?_" interrupted Stormont, in a voice
that quivered in spite of himself.

"I take my chance. Senor Gendarme, she is within that room. If you are
her frien', you shall advise her to return to me my property."

After another silence.

"Eve!" he called sharply.

She placed her lips to the door: "Yes, Jack."

He said: "There are five masked men out here who say that Clinch robbed
them and they are here to recover their property. ... Do you know
anything about this?"

"I know they lie. My father is not a thief. ... I have my rifle and
plenty of ammunition. I shall kill every man who enters this room."

For a moment nobody stirred or spoke. Then Quintana strode to the
bolted door and st