The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

If you want any further information meet me at the Blue Lion, Monument,

attend to. It would have troubled him had it come before Bowker had absconded, but now it was much worse. Bowker would have shared the anxiety, and interviewed "J. Driver." He could have g

Young Men's Mutual Improvement meeting, and the gentleman who was to deliver the evening's lecture occupied the post of his Majesty's Solicitor-General. "He will pr

subject. He had applauded at wrong places. Once a titter from the audience had resulted, and the Solicitor-General had turned on him a look of pained surprise. In the agony of the moment h

verish anxiety. He had come to the lecture in a soft wide-awake hat and the oldest top-coat in his wardrobe. He now donned a woollen muffler, and put on a pair of smoked glass spectacles. This was his idea of disguise. It was simple, but ineffectiv

th-rate street. Mr. Toft had never been in such an unpleasant place in his life, and he groaned as he thought th

for as the be-muffled and be-spectacled gentleman in the soft hat entered the tap-room a sarcastic voice loudly expressed the hope that he hadn't permanently injured his constitution by running. Mr. Toft was grieved at the publicity given to this

"I'm sure I'm very sorry. I had made an engagement before your letter came, and

the prompt response,

and emphatic, and his eye was piercing. He was broad and muscular, and would probably be a good boxer, thought Mr. Toft. He glanced at the dr

I know yours. That's where we're equal. You're in a beastly

ft. "In fact, I haven't the faint

ribs that made him jump. "Garn! you old

ed Mr. Toft, shrinking

ch you've got false receipts? What about contracts executed with inferior st

iness achievements. "You are misinformed,"

is cheek. "Then how did you get yo

in the open market," re

t, "I wish I had your artless style. Stick to it, Mis

simply for the purpose of insulting m

t be a thought-reader, Septimus-a bloomin' thought-reader. You're quite right

Toft, relieved, th

te chest of the Fel

s eyebrows. "You'r

r?" he repeated loudly, banging his fist on the table so that all turned their e

" said the man. "Have

responde

hand i

began the unh

t I am. I'm as meek and pleasant as a cow to those that treat me fair a

can

ralty only suspect. To-morrow they'll know, and you'll know too, Se

self with fears and anxieties. Then, to put on time whilst he colle

you want further pertic'lers you won't get 'em, but I promise to retu

dinary idea," said M

you're a bloomin' ordinary one. Will you let

ow you got them w

asleep in an opium den, or when we met

te safe. In the ordinary course of events he would be elected Prime Warden next year, but if there were any trouble about the plate he might not be. Better that, though, than a public exposure of his business met

asked, "how do I know that you w

t for your hair bein' so thin on top. If you don't hand me that key without any more rottin' I'll just drop this in the first pillar-box I come across." He pulled out a fat blue envelope and flourished it in front of Mr. Toft's

Toft's ear. "But it wants a stamp, or the Government might not take it in. On such trifles do o

nd of his watch-chain he detached a gold

r visiti

nded it over. "You'll give me

at key back by Friday, and all your spoons'll be in the box. If you don't interfere you'll never hear of me again, and the Admiralty won't either; but if y

talked out of the room. After a

urried to answer it, and found a lady on the doorstep. She was neatly dressed, and was strikingly hands

ellmongers' Ha

is,

a painting you have on your walls? I do not know if it is neces

der my supervision," said the port

ings down, Johnnie. That's right. I'll let y

mes thinks as pictures is wasted on gentlemen dinin' with City Companies. The

e artist, "but I shall know the pict

ed by 'Olbein. Born 1455. Lived to the ripe age of ninety-four, and died regretted by hi

f which were hung with many pictures. "This is Tiffany,

painting I want is the one nearest to

e room is off the Banqueting 'All, and they are al

very stupidly I have been inf

llmongers!" he exclaimed. It was the famous hall in which heads of City Companies and ruling sovereigns are intermittently

plate room?" a

' without authority, day or night, sets in action two peals of electric b

. "Now I must find my picture." She looke

lly Junior Warden of our Company. Painted by Merillo. Never gettin' beyon

things in if I may. Is there a Mrs. --? Jeckell, thank yo

face square nohow. He's smilin' in the picture, but she's made him lockjawed an' moonstruck. She says if she can't get him right she'll have to turn him into a shipwreck. She must be

er drawing if he could have seen the note

t come to the authorities from without. Apply for permission to copy painting or to sketch interior, and watch. Should any other than the Company's servant e

ame another peal from the front-entrance bell. A man

me for the Nelson

urprised. "Got a

s," said the man, handin

ant it for?" Mr

ome. Wants to cut an extr

ravely, but made no remark.

y with her picture. He stopped at a door, which he unlocked, and both men passed through. Barely had they done

r's wife

nd. I'm sure he is a thief. Warn Mr. Jeckell to get

rmed Mrs. Jeckell. "A thief!

Finally the three emerged, two hot and flurried, and the stranger, looking cool and determ

e man with the bag and cup she gave a little gasp of

lly astonished. "Yo

usband. "They're acting in collision. I'll shout for th

y in French. "Put the cup in your pocket. G

ell prostrate on the floor, they hurried from the Hall. At the str

ye." She ran off in the opposite direction, sti

sistent to the policeman, who no

in the bag. Both

've killed Samuel," cried his horrified wife, running to him; but the policeman, though he

s did she mean by first givin' the alarm and then aidin' and abettin'? And she looked so innercent-like, too. The first hartist as I've ever e

demonstrative than mig

e its foundation. Every detail of it is firmly impressed on the memory of each member present; yet

s, his Grace of Dorchester, the Presi

s the payment of an entrance fee-the Nelson Goblet of the Fellmongers' Compan

st general applause, placed on the t

d the President, "I now move that he be enro

you are

dian of his day, a traveller who had pressed far into Thibet, a diplomatist at the mention of whose name the Turk shifted

Company showed me that the treasurer and plate-keeper was a certain Mr. Toft. The directory informed me that he was a steam-tug owner and a contractor to the Admiralty. Inquiry there told me he was under suspicion of bribery and corruption. I played on this little weakness of his, and, if I am not mistaken, I frightened him into the paths of virtue for th

ther in mystified amazement. What on earth w

"Who instigated that alarm

ed, "Presumab

f someone unknown. This agent was a lady who did not know that she was betraying an old friend. A minute later we were face

man. I found him in a state of extreme nervous prostration, but I left him convinced that it was not h

ooked uncomfortable at the atte

ing here I concluded that the Foreign Office would have her address. I was not mistaken. I found my friend, and learnt that s

n did this announcement. There was an involuntary exclamation from everyone. For a moment all

bers were allowed to pay off old scores on each other through its medium. Last year I considered it my duty to advise against Sir Francis Marwood's appointment to Lisbon. This was his revenge. I was prepared to run an

all sides. Then cries

uke. "Sir Francis Mar

a man of some distinction

reason of my action was simple. This Club was formed by us, not merely for passing time, but for keeping up our wits in degenerate days. To such a man as Lord Horton I felt that the purloining of the Fellmongers' Goblet must fall flat indeed. I have read the marvellous accou

s seat amidst loudly e

faith between its members, and I never dreamt of anything less than this being possible. Two duties are obviously mine. The first, Sir Francis Marwood, is to inform you

to wipe out now." Then, with an ugly sneer, "It is hardly necessary to say that the F.O. will no longer require the

asked her to marry me, and she refused, because, absurdly enough, she thought it would spoil my career. We d

wife anything would be possible. Yesterday I begged her to reconsider her decision, and to help me in my career. I am proud to say she consented. We are to be marr

lars' Club for married life, happin