rompt measures on your part. It is a disclosure that will make you
professionally one of the most famous detective officers in the world."

Oscar stared and wondered what could be the nature of this thrilling
disclosure. He said nothing, but kept upon a line of intense thought,
and the woman proceeding said:

"Some very prominent people will be involved--men who stand high, who
will be torn from their high estate. I am willing that you should
perform your full professional duty, save as concerns one individual,
and I want you to promise that you will save that one individual, though
he may be the most guilty of the whole gang of criminals."

The woman's proposition was suggested, and it was a most remarkable one.

"Can you promise?" she asked.

"I cannot."

"Then my lips must remain sealed."

"I am sorry, miss, but I cannot promise to spare a criminal. I am bound
by professional honor to close in on every criminal whom I can convict."

"Then, as I said, my lips must remain sealed."

"What are your relations to the individual who is a criminal and whom
you desire exempted from the consequences of his acts?"

"He is my brother. Yes, sir, and in coming to you I am betraying my dear
brother; but I would do so only to save him from the consequences of his
crime. If I cannot save him I cannot betray him, but I do think that
when I reveal to you the plot and identities of many criminals in return
I should receive the promise of the exemption of one of them--that one,
my own brother."

"I will not positively declare that I will not make the promise; it will
depend upon the nature of the disclosure. Will you indicate the
character of the disclosure you have to make?"

"I will."

"Do so."

"There is existing in this city a band, an organized gang of the most
skillful criminals on earth. Their organization is so complete that a
discipline as perfect as military order prevails. These men have defied
the police for years; they are doing more harm to the commercial world
than ever was suffered before in many years. My brother is a member of
this gang. Misfortune overtook him, and in a moment of desperation he
became a member, a sworn member. He is very useful to them, owing to his
skill in certain directions. He has made a confidant of me. He has told
me everything and I, after a long struggle with myself, determined to
save him if I could by betraying his confederates. I know all their
identities. I know all their p