Hearts and Masks

The rogue laughed lightly. "I know Mr. Haggerty's habits. He is

hustling back to New York as fast as he can. He passed here ten

minutes ago in the patrol, lickety-clip! He wishes to warn all

pawnbrokers and jewelers to be on the lookout for me to-morrow. Ten

thousand in a night!"--jovially.

"A very tidy sum, sir," said William.

"A fourth of which goes to you, my good and faithful friend."

"Thank you, sir," replied William.

Two cooler rogues I never wish to meet!

"But wouldn't it be well, sir, to hasten?" asked William.

"We have plenty of time now, my son."

"You have not entered this room," said the girl, her terror slipping

from her, "simply to offer these banalities. What do you wish?"

"What perspicacity, William!" cried the rogue, taking out a cigarette

case.

"I don't know what that word means, sir, but as you do, it seems to fit

the occasion proper enough."

"It means, William, that this charming young lady scents our visit from

afar."

"I had a suspicion, sir, that it might mean that." William leaned

against the wall, his beady eyes twinkling merrily.

The master rogue lighted a cigarette at one of the candles.

"Pardon me," he said, "but will you join me?"--proffering the handsome

gold case.

I took a cigarette and fired it. (I really wanted it.) I would show

up well before this girl if I died for it. I blew a cloud of smoke at

the candle-flame. There was a sparkle of admiration in the girl's

eyes.

"Mr. Comstalk, my respect for you increases each moment." The rogue

sat down.

"And to whom might this handsome case belong?" I asked, examining it

closely.

"Oh, that has always been mine. There was a time,"--blowing rings at

the candelabrum,--"when I was respected like yourself, rich, sought

after. A woman and a trusted friend: how these often tumble down our

beautiful edifices! Yes, I am a scamp, a thief, a rogue; but not

because I need the money. No,"--with retrospective eyes--"I need

excitement, tremendous and continuous,--excitement to keep my vigilance

and invention active day and night, excitement to obliterate memory.

"But we can't do it, my friend, we can't do it. Memory is always with

us. She is an impartial Nemesis; she dogs the steps of the righteous

and the unrighteous. To obliterate memory, that is it! And where

might I find this obliteration, save in this life? Drugs? Pah! Oh, I

have given Haggerty a royal chase. It has been meat and drink to me to

fool the cleverest policeman in New York. Till yesterday my face, as a

criminal, was unknown to any man or woman, save William here, who was

my valet in the old days. I have gone to my clubs, dined, played

billiards; a fine comedy, a fine comedy! To-morrow William and I sail

for Europe. Miss Hawthorne, you wear one of the most exquisite rubies

I have ever seen. Permit me to examine it."