she rushed out from the kitchen,
where behind the half-closed door she had been listening to the plot.

"Shut up, girl, will you?" her husband commanded roughly. "We want no
woman's advice in our business."

And rising from his chair, he unlocked the drawer in the movable
cupboard wherein he kept certain of his private belongings, and took
therefrom a serviceable-looking revolver, which he examined and saw was
fully loaded.

He also drew forth some skeleton keys, a burglar's jemmy in two
sections, a pair of india-rubber gloves, a small, thin saw, and an
electric pocket-lamp, all of which he carefully stowed away in his
pockets.

The contents of that drawer were a startling revelation to Jean. He had
always kept it locked, and she had often wondered what it contained.

Now that she knew she stood staggered.

She looked in horror at the revolver he held in his hand, and then with
a sudden movement she flung herself upon him and grasped his arms,
appealing to him for the sake of her love to desist from such an
adventure.

Quick and passionate came the words, the full, fervent appeal of a woman
deeply and honestly in love. But he heeded not either her tears or her
words, and only cast her from him with a rough malediction, declaring
her to be an encumbrance.

"But think!" she cried. "Now that I know what you are I am in deadly
fear that--that one day they may come, Ralph, and take you away from
me."

And she stood pale-faced and trembling before him.

"Ah, never fear, my girl," replied her husband. "They'll never have me.
They've tried a good many times, haven't they Adolphe?" and he laughed
defiantly. "The police! Zut! I do not fear them!" and he snapped his
thin, long fingers in contempt.

"But one day, dear--one day they may be successful. And--and what should
I do?"

"Do?" he asked. "Well, if I were put away I suppose you'd have to do as
a good many other women have done."

She looked at him very straight in deep reproach, but uttered no word.

Disillusionment had fallen upon her, and utterly crushed her. Ralph--her
Ralph--the man in whom all her love, all her thoughts, all her
sympathies were centred, was a thief, and, further, he had cursed her as
an encumbrance.

The poor girl drew her hand across her brow as though unable to actually
realise the astounding facts. She was stunned by the hideous truth which
had that evening been revealed. The blow had in an instant crushed all
the light out of he