ered. "May I ask what you intend to
do?"

"To break open this desk, if necessary," Mr. Weiss said, "and to find
our way somehow or other into the interior of the coffer where these
papers are."

"And supposing I tell you," she answered calmly, "that I shall not
permit a second burglary in this room within twenty-four hours?"

Higgins came forward.

"Miss Virginia," he said, "pardon me, Miss Longworth, you look like a
sensible young woman. I believe you are. Consider our position. Our
whole future as men of influence and character depends upon certain
papers, of which your uncle had charge, being kept absolutely secret. We
entrusted him with the care of them in health, but we are not prepared
to let them stay here now that he is lying upstairs dangerously ill,
and one attempt to steal them has already been made. Take the case at
its worst; if your uncle should die, a seal would be put upon all his
effects, and nothing in the world could stop those documents becoming
public property. You can't realize what that would mean to us. It would
mean ruin not only to ourselves, but to hundreds of others. It would
mean a panic in all the money-markets of the world. We only meant that
paper to remain in existence for a matter of twenty-four hours. We are
fully determined that it shall not remain in this room any longer,
guarded or unguarded. Can't you sympathize with us? Don't you see the
position we are in?"

"Whatever is in this room," Virginia said, "is safe until my uncle is
well enough to decide what shall be done. While he remains in his
present condition I shall not allow anything to be disturbed."

"You have relations," Higgins said to her meaningly, "whom you would
like to help. One could not offer to bribe you. Don't think that I mean
anything of the sort. But between us we will give one hundred thousand
dollars for those papers, and I guarantee that when your uncle recovers
he will be quite willing to give you another hundred thousand for having
been sensible enough to let us have them."

Virginia turned her back upon him.

"This is not a matter," she said, "if you please, Mr. Weiss, which I
can discuss with you or your friend. I cannot let you stay in this room.
If you will not go away, I must ring for the servants."

Higgins made a sudden movement, as though to seize her by the arms, but
she was too quick for him. She wheeled suddenly round, and something
very small but very deadly looking flashed out in her