'Sit down,' said Vandeloup, in a peremptory tone, pointing to the
floor. 'I wish to tell you what I think.'

Pierre obediently dropped on to the floor, where he squatted like a
huge misshapen toad, while Vandeloup, after going to the door to see
that it was closed, returned to the bed, sat down again, and, having
lighted another cigarette, began to speak. All this precaution was
somewhat needless, as he was talking rapidly in French, but then M.
Vandeloup knew that walls have ears and possibly might understand
foreign languages.

'I need hardly remind you,' said Vandeloup, in a pleasant voice,
'that when we landed in Australia I told you that there was war
between ourselves and society, and that, at any cost, we must try to
make money; so far, we have only been able to earn an honest
livelihood--a way of getting rich which you must admit is remarkably
slow. Here, however, is a chance of making, if not a fortune, at
least a good sum of money at one stroke. This M. Villiers is going
to rob his wife, and his plan will no doubt be this: he will lie in
wait for her, and when she drives slowly down the hill, he will
spring on to the trap and perhaps attempt to kill her; at all
events, he will seize the box containing the nugget, and try to make
off with it. How he intends to manage it I cannot tell you--it must
be left to the chapter of accidents; but,' in a lower voice, bending
forward, 'when he does get the nugget we must obtain it from him.'

Pierre looked up and drew his hand across his throat.

'Not necessarily,' returned Vandeloup, coolly; 'I know your adage,