The White Lie

he dress he wore he presented anything but the appearance of the gentleman he did when, t

ircled by a soft collar tied with a loose, black cravat. His waistcoat was open, displaying his soft, white

e is blind, and as yet Jean would believe nothing to his disc

revealing his high, square forehead, he threw off his coat

ng eatable to-night. I shall want something

ing down the tureen of pot-

," he snapped, taking his soup, commencing

rotested. "You know I've had

ared. "You may be all very well to make hats, but you're n

terrupted by a lo

e next second sprang up and

Come in and have a bit of dinner. I want to talk to you. I was coming

the sideboard, as was his habit, and sat down at the

the window, went back to the table

ve got a good thing on for us both to-night. You know

s companion cried, glancin

wife, he exclaimed, with a sinister grin: "Perhaps, Jean, you may wonder how we live-how I have got my money

blankly at her husband,

she gasped

Heaven, it will be the worse for you! If you say a word," he added, fiercely, with knit bro

g up in horror. "Have you t

angrily. "I won't stand by

ely. "She's my wife, and I can speak to her. I can tell

rudent to have said nothing, Ra

and waistcoat and black trousers, he wore no collar,

em he saw an expression of sil

her hands, burst into bitter, blinding tea

d. "Now that little foo

idiot," declared th

have to be brought to her

s upse

he wants fine dresses and a good time she must help us. And

different typ

see what I'll do. She'll be a v

ows upon the table and

. "Let me hear

s that we left our jet in London, and we cannot get it without." And he took a caporal from the packet before him and slowly lit it. Then he resumed, saying: "Now, I propose that we leave the safe out of the question, and go for the plate in the salle-à-manger. We have no tools for a really artistic job, so we must be content this time with the Baron's embroideries

, to whom, of course, Ansell had never spoke

ound asleep, and to-morrow we shall be a couple of thousand francs

all I hear be true, is an extreme

body, we must act as

ot,

odded an

n London, remember

r. Much of it is kept in drawers in the room. Besides, there were a lot of knick-knacks about in the large salon. Levy will buy them in a mome

flected deeply. He was silent for fully three minu

ou propose

rom your place, and I'll take my flash-

hed out from the kitchen, where behind the half

band commanded roughly. "We want n

wherein he kept certain of his private belongings, and took therefrom a

ions, a pair of india-rubber gloves, a small, thin saw, and an elect

evelation to Jean. He had always kept it locke

knew she st

a sudden movement she flung herself upon him and grasped his arms, app

and honestly in love. But he heeded not either her tears or her words, and onl

ou are I am in deadly fear that-that one day th

le-faced and tre

ried a good many times, haven't they Adolphe?" and he laughed defiantly. "The pol

y they may be successful.

t away I suppose you'd have to do a

straight in deep reproa

lph-the man in whom all her love, all her thoughts, all her sympathies wer

the astounding facts. She was stunned by the hideous truth which had that evening

ons, jail-birds, without a doubt. She knew why he was sometimes absent all night, why he had stolen in, weary and worn, in the e

quisitive questions," Ralph said, noticing how strangely she had star

voice. "I understand, too, Ralph, that you no longer love m

burst in

ed his friend. "You ought to have a litt

up, or you and I won't agree. Do you hear that-once and for all?" replie

d his shoulders, a

surprise

oat and cap, and placed the revolver in his pocket preparatory to departing upon his midnight adventure. Sh

ed. "Don't go! Give up the project! Wor

all day, adding up figures, or writing letters for some other thief with a bras

ain, his hands still in hers, for she hel

ew moments had held her speechless, but now she had found tongue, and even

lared, roughly. "Let me go. Come on, Adol

ughly so that she was compe

caught him, clinging to him resolutel

s flashed quickly and, gripping her by the r

his hat on ready to depart, sprang in from

r-not while I am present! Co

d realise what had actually happened, the two men, without further word, had le

e, white-faced, ter

self in his true colours-a thief,

him with all the strength of her being-loved him

would have willingly died for him ha

staring straight before her, her countenance white to

was awhirl. She could scarcely

a statue, then suddenly she staggered, reeled, a