"You have many such?"

"For convenience one tries to have one in each city."

"And this----?"

"Oh, I have him fixed, all right. He confided to me all the latest
developments and official intentions with regard to the Maitland arrest."

Her eyes danced. "Tell me!" she demanded, imperious: the emphasis of
intimacy irresistible as she bent forward, forearms on the cloth, slim
white hands clasped with tense impatience, eyes seeking his.

"Why ... of course Maitland escaped."

"No!"

"Fact. Scared the butler into ungagging him; then, in a fit of pardonable
rage, knocked that fool down and dashed out of the window--presumably in
pursuit of us. Up to a late hour he hadn't returned, and police opinion is
divided as to whether Maitland arrested Anisty, and Anisty got away, or
_vice versa_."

"Excellent!" She clasped her hands noiselessly, a gay little gesture.

"So, whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: Higgins will presently be
seeking another berth."

She lifted her brows prettily. "Higgins?"--with the rising inflection.