"_Bien!_ Then to work."

And the pair crept from the room without a sound, and along the dark, thickly-carpeted corridor.

CHAPTER X.

HONOUR AMONG THIEVES.

They ascended the broad, dark staircase noiselessly and crept along to a door which _Fil-en-Quatre_ opened cautiously, when they found themselves in the big salon, a s.p.a.cious, luxuriantly-furnished room, where many of the notables of Paris, both social and political, were wont to a.s.semble.

Society was in ignorance of the true _metier_ of this wealthy Belgian, and as he entertained lavishly upon the money secretly supplied to him from Berlin, he was accepted at his own valuation, and was highly popular in the emba.s.sy set.

The little ray of light from Ralph's lamp travelled slowly around, revealing quant.i.ties of _bric-a-brac_; but so much booty had they already obtained that the pair only selected two gold spoons from a gla.s.s-topped specimen-table, with a little box, also of chased gold.

As Ralph looked around, he again became seized by that uncontrollable desire to commit damage for the mere sake of wanton destruction; therefore drawing his knife, he slashed quickly at a big ottoman covered with old rose silk damask, cutting it across and across. Afterwards he treated a down cushion in the same fierce fashion, causing the feathers to fly about the room.

"Come--enough!" whispered "The Eel" at his elbow. "Where is the Baron's room?"

"We've got to find it," was the reply. "And, by Heaven! if the spy moves, I'll put some lead into him!"

And together the pair stole forth on their tour of discovery.

The silent house was weird and full of distorted shadows. Through the long windows of stained gla.s.s which lit the great staircase the moon shone, its rays striking straight across the upper landing. Several of the doors were closed. They were bedrooms, evidently.

At one of them Ralph paused, raising his finger to command a halt. With the light touch of the expert he placed his fingers upon the door-handle, and, turning it, without raising the slightest click, he stole inside and stood in silence, listening attentively. All was dark, and there was no noise.

For a few moments he waited in patience. Then, hearing no sound of any sleeper, he switched on his little electric lamp, finding the apartment to be a small, well-furnished bedroom, but empty.

Both men examined it critically by the light of the torch, arriving at the conclusion that it contained nothing of worth.

Therefore, after Ralph had made a vicious slash at the satin-covered down quilt upon the bed, and also drawn his sharp knife across the carpet, severing it clearly, they went out to the next room, and to the next, with similar result.

Apparently the Baron did not sleep on that floor at all.

At last, however, they came to a locked door at the end of the corridor.

A rapid examination showed that it had been locked from the inside, and the key was missing. Therefore, without further ado, Ralph knelt down at the lock, and with "The Eel" holding the little lamp, he commenced to attack the fastening with his skeleton keys. At such work he was an expert, for in three minutes the door stood open, and they found themselves standing in a small place, almost a box-room, for it only contained a plain little leather-covered table, set against the wall, and a chair; while in the opposite corner, upon a strong, wooden stand, stood a big, green-painted fireproof safe, about six feet in height.

Both men uttered e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of surprise when their eyes fell upon it.

"The papers--the secrets of Germany--are in here!" Ralph exclaimed, in a whisper. "Come! There's no time to lose. Let's get at them. I hope this is the key. I suppose he preferred to keep it in hiding in the secret place in his writing-table than to carry it about with him."

Taking the bright little key from his pocket, he examined it critically by the light of the lamp. Then he examined the maker's name upon the bra.s.s plate on the safe.

"Yes," he said, "I think I'm right. And if so, we shall each be richer by a couple of hundred thousand francs."

"You don't seem to like the Baron, Ralph!" whispered his friend, with a smile.

"Like him! Why, I hate him! I've been here before--as his visitor."

"Is he really what you alleged--a German spy?"

"Yes. And I can prove it. Why, in doing what we are now we are acting as patriots, not as common burglars. We are acting for the honour of France."

"And for our pockets, my dear fellow," laughed his companion, as he bent beside him and watched him draw aside the bra.s.s cover of the lock and insert the key.

Gripping the big bra.s.s handle--for he knew the mechanism of that much-advertised make of safe--Ralph first turned it to the right. Then he turned the key, which worked evenly and easily, afterwards twisting the handle in an opposite direction.

Next moment, the bolts being shot back, the heavy, steel door came slowly open; but suddenly, at the same instant, a huge electric alarm bell in the main hall was set ringing.

At first so startled were they both that they did not move. But next second the truth dawned upon them.

"_Diable!_ Let's fly!" cried Ansell. "It's all up! Across the garden and over the wall by the gate in the corner. Quick!"

Out of the room and down the stairs dashed the men like lightning. Along the corridor through the room by which they had entered, and out into the moonlight in the garden.

They heard loud shouts of alarm from the windows. Electric lights were being switched on everywhere, and loud cries were being raised of "Thieves! a.s.sa.s.sins! Thieves!" while somebody fired three shots at them from a window as they crossed the grounds and sought concealment in the shadows.

As fast as their legs could carry them they made for the corner of the wall wherein was the Baron's secret exit, and, scaling the wall with quick agility, were soon on the other side--and clear away.

As they ran back in the direction of the Bois de Boulogne they could hear shouts and cries of the Baron and his servants. Twice were revolvers emptied to attract the police, and then the hubbub grew fainter, and at last, beneath the deep shadow of a wall, they halted to regain breath.

"Never mind, Adolphe!" laughed Ralph; "we've got a nice haul, and it was an easy job, after all. I never expected the spy to have an alarm attached to the door of his safe. He's a wary bird, after all!"

"Let's get back to your place at once," urged "The Eel." "It will be growing light soon, and we ought to be in before anyone gets about."

"You're right. Jean will be wondering where we are--poor, innocent little thing," he laughed, jeeringly. "I suppose she's been fretting--but fretting always does a woman good."

"Don't speak like that, old chap," said the other. "I don't like to hear it."

"Ah! You always take her part. You're too chicken-hearted where women are concerned. A woman will be your ruin one day, mark me," was Ralph's reply. "But come along."

And they hurried forward, in the direction of Ansell's house.

Half an hour later, just before the first flush of dawn, the two men entered the weedy courtyard, and Ansell let himself in with his key.

Their movements were stealthy; but, nevertheless, Mother Brouet, in suspicion of the truth, for she had known _Fil-en-Quatre_ for several years, put her head out of her door, asking:

"Halloa, my boys! Something on--eh?"

"Yes, mother," laughed Ralph lightly. "Something quite good. Keep your eyes open, and if anybody calls, we're not receiving visitors--you understand! And there's a couple of louis for you," he added with a grin.

The old woman grasped the coins with her claw-like hand, saying:

"_Tres bien, m'sieur_," and the head, adorned by curlers, disappeared.

The two men then mounted the stairs on tip-toe, and Ansell noiselessly unlocked the door of his apartment, believing Jean to be asleep.