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 fail in his duty to himself
- as a gentleman. What other course was open to me? I discovered
a very charming young lady in the grip of a hulking police brute.
She also, apparently, took liberties with the law. There was a
bond between us. I - er - took it upon myself to do what I could.
And, besides, I was not insensible to the fact that I was under a
certain obligation to her, quixotic as it may sound, in view of
the fact that we were evidently competitors after the same game.
You see, if she had not forestalled me and been caught herself,
I should most certainly have walked into the trap that our friend
of headquarters had prepared. I - er - as I say, did what I could.
She got away; but somehow Rough Rorke later discovered her here in
this room, I understand that he was not happy over the result; that,
thanks to you, she escaped again, and has not been heard of since.