youse, boss.'
'At me! Why at me? Why, of course. I see now. Our friend McEachern
has got him in to spy on us.'
'Dat's right, boss.'
'Of course, you may be mistaken.'
'Not me, boss. An', say, he ain't de only one.'
'What, more detectives? They'll have to put up 'House Full' boards,
at this rate. Who's the other?'
'A mug what's down in de soivants' hall. I wasn't so sure of him at
foist, but now I'm onto his curves. He's a sleut' all right. He's
vally to Sir Tummas, dis second mug is. But he ain't no vally. He's
come to see no one don't get busy wit' de jools. Say, what do youse
t'ink of dem jools, boss?'
'Finest I ever saw.'
'Yes, dat's right. A hundred t'ousand plunks dey set him back.
Dey're de limit, ain't dey? Say, won't youse really--?'
'Spike! I'm surprised at you! Do you know, you're getting a regular
Mephistopheles, Spike? Suppose I hadn't an iron will, what would
happen? You really must select your subjects of conversation more
carefully. You're bad company for the likes of me.'
Spike shuffled despondently.
'But, boss--!'
Jimmy shook his head.
'It can't be done, my lad.'
'But it can, boss,' protested Spike. 'It's dead easy. I've been up
to de room, an' I seen de box what de jools is kept in. Why, it's de
softest ever! We could get dem as easy as pullin' de plug out of a
bottle. Why, say, dere's never been such a peach of a place for
gittin' hold of de stuff as dis house. Dat's right, boss. Why, look
what I got dis afternoon, just snoopin' around an' not really tryin'
to git busy at all. It was just lyin' about.'
He plunged his hand into his pocket, and drew it out again. As he
unclosed his fingers, Jimmy caught the gleam of precious stones.
'What the--!' he gasped.
Spike was looking at his treasure-trove with an air of affectionate
proprietorship.
'Where on earth did you get those?' asked Jimmy.
'Out of one of de rooms. Dey belonged to one of de loidies. It was
de easiest old t'ing ever, boss. I just went in when dere was nobody
around, an' dere dey was on de toible. I never butted into anyt'in'
so soft.'
'Spike!'
'Yes, boss?'
'Do you remember the room you took them from?'
'Sure. It was de foist on de--'
'Then, just listen to me for a moment, my bright boy. When we're at
breakfast to-morrow, you want to go to that room and put those
things back--all of them, mind you--just where you found them. Do
you understand?'
Spike's jaw had fallen.
