'You misunderstand me. It's only that it means paying for a dinner.
I wouldn't for the world--'
The policeman pointed to the window.
'Out you get,' he said, abruptly. 'I've had enough of you. And don't
you forget to come to my office.'
Spike, still deeply mistrustful of the bull-dog Rastus, jumped at
the invitation. He was through the window and out of sight in the
friendly darkness almost before the policeman had finished speaking.
Jimmy remained.
'I shall be delighted--' he had begun. Then, he stopped. In the
doorway was standing a girl--a girl whom he recognized. Her startled
look told him that she, too, had recognized him.
Not for the first time since he had set out from his flat that night
in Spike's company, Jimmy was conscious of a sense of the unreality
of things. It was all so exactly as it would have happened in a
dream! He had gone to sleep thinking of this girl, and here she was.
But a glance at the man with the revolver brought him back to earth.
There was nothing of the dream-world about the police-captain.
That gentleman, whose back was toward the door, had not observed the
addition to the company. Molly had turned the handle quietly, and
her slippered feet made no sound. It was the amazed expression on
Jimmy's face that caused the captain to look toward the door.
'Molly!'
The girl smiled, though her face was white. Jimmy's evening clothes
had reassured her. She did not understand how he came to be there,
but evidently there was nothing wrong. She had interrupted a
conversation, not a conflict.
'I heard the noise and you going downstairs, and I sent the dogs
down to help you, father,' she said. 'And, then, after a little, I
came down to see if you were all right.'
Mr. McEachern was perplexed. Molly's arrival had put him in an
awkward position. To denounce the visitor as a cracksman was now
impossible, for he knew too much. The only real fear of the
policeman's life was lest some word of his money-making methods
might come to his daughter's ears.
Quite a brilliant idea came to him.
'A man broke in, my dear,' he said. 'This gentleman was passing, and
saw him.'
'Distinctly,' said Jimmy. 'An ugly-looking customer!'
'But he slipped out of the window, and got away,' concluded the
policeman.
'He was very quick,' said Jimmy. 'I think he may have been a
professional acrobat.'
'He didn't hurt you, father?'
'No, no, my dear.'
'Perhaps I frightened him,' said Jimmy, airily.
Mr. McEachern scowled furtively at him.
'We mustn't detain you, Mr.-'
'Pitt,' said Jimmy. 'My name is Pitt.' He turned to Molly. 'I hope
you enjoyed the voyage.'
