ck, daring, agile wit that he had exhibited the night
before. She found her hand toying unconsciously with the weapon in her
pocket. She was aware that she was fencing with unbuttoned foils. How
much did he know--about last night?

"Well, why don't youse spill it?" she invited curtly. "Who are youse?"

"Who am I?" He lifted the lapel of his coat, carrying the boutonniere to
his nose. "My dear lady, I am an adventurer."

"Youse don't say!" observed Rhoda Gray, alias Gypsy Nan. "An' wot's dat
w' en it's at home?"

"In my case, first of all a gentleman, I trust," he said pleasantly;
"after that, I do not quarrel with the accepted definition of the
term--though it is not altogether complimentary."

Rhoda Gray scowled. As Rhoda Gray, she might have answered him; as Gypsy
Nan, it was too subtle, and she was beyond her depth.

"Youse look to me like a slick crook!" she said bluntly.

"I will admit," he said, "that I have at times, perhaps, taken liberties
with the law."

"Well, den," she snapped, "cut out de high-brow stuff, an' come across
wid wot brought youse here. I ain't holdin' no reception. Who's de
friend youse was talkin' about?"

The Adventurer looked around him, and lowered his voice.

"The White Moll," he said.

Rhoda Gray eyed the man for a long minute; then she shook her head.

"I take back wot I said about youse bein' a slick crook," she announced
coolly. "I guess youse're a dick from headquarters. Well, youse have got
de wrong number--see? Me fingers are crossed. Try next door!"

The Adventurer's eyes were fixed on the newspaper headlines on the
floor. He raised them now significantly to hers.

"You helped her to get away from Rough Rorke last night," he said
gently. "Well, so did I. I am very anxious to find the White Moll, and,
as I know of no other way except through you, I have got to make you
believe in me, if I can. Listen, my dear lady--and don't look at me so
suspiciously. I have already admitted that I have taken liberties with
the law. Let me add now that last night there was a little fortune of
quite a few thousand dollars that I had already made up my mind was
as good as in my pocket. I was on my way to get it--the newspaper
will already have given you the details--when I found that I had been
forestalled by the young lady, who, the papers say, is known as the
White Moll." He smiled whimsically. "Even though one might be a slick
crook as you suggest, it is no reason why he should fai