The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

kings, and the hope of the impecunious, had built himself

residence. Its boldly projecting cornices, its rusticated base and quoins, the consoles of its upper windows, all betrayed its Florentine birth; but the lower windows, reach

set with dogs, apparently petrified by their ow

house, lay the bowling green; beyond it a wood, through which ran the path

equatorial telescope through which, as opportunity offered, Mr. Meyer was wont to gaze thoughtf

bearing a sentence of cryptic import; and in the woods, at the least expected places, stood marble columns,

easures that had cost th

gh to see him through till the following Saturday, and maturing Titanic sch

ul-who had with much difficulty, though with ultimate success

y some venturesome tourist was captured and turned back. Other visitors wer

gland. At the landing-stage he informed the man in charge that h

ness?" cam

usiness," sai

ticular b

," was th

mitted, and th

eiver. "Straight up the path, and through the

om facing the sea, in which Mr. Meyer was seated

d nose, and bright eyes. His moustache and imperial did no

ad arisen demanding City attire, which was not immediately forthcoming. Mr. Meyer had lost an opportunity in life through carelessness. There

me on business?" he

s decided mould-a good-looking, clean-sha

ission to photograph th

r. Holzmann, den?"

N

r business wa

is-to m

him. "Why do you want

tion in a

makka

have seen many interesting reproductions of interiors of the stately homes of England in the pe

I live here in solitude. I do not bring visitors.

t it did not seem such a great favour to ask. Most people are gl

, as Dommas Carlyle sa

not ma

ve you bermission. But stay. Dere is an orkit from de mittle of Africa of which I should like to have a picture-de Cypripedium Meyeri-a new species which I have had de

which was printed "John Lucas,

a long way," Mr

me look round your house, even if I may not photograph it

ked intently

, since you have come so far, and are interested in domestic architect

pointing out its architectural beauties, and ind

essions of appreciation. "Are you

not be here to-day in dis Tuscan Villa. I have gone into de ques

cended the heights of the observatory and

ou would like to see?"

collect miniatures.

dis

cing a window. Meyer stood before it. "See," he said;

l choice examples of de best masters. Dese are Gosways. Dis is an Engleheart," and so on. He went through the collection t

. "Here is de latest addition to my collection. A krand Holbein. You notice de blue backkround, characteristic of dat kreat master, and de wonderful thin bainting. Yo

t back. "I env

no man till he is dead,' said de old Kreek philosopher, and I am very muc

very point of the compass, Mr. Lucas made his way to the landing-

as successfully beached on the south shore of St. George's Island. Under the protection of the trees its occupant-none other

shadow of the balustrade and dogs, he crept to the fourth window,

pane, he began to cut out a square of the window. The glass was thick, so the process was long, but Mr. Lucas toiled at it with a patience and perseverance worthy of a better ca

im to undo the catch inside. Then nearly as long passed before the removal

n at last, and Luc

he credit of his professional abilities. A moment afterwards he was chilled by the later thought that nothi

eman; but now, at something after midnight, in the deathly stillness of his villa, Mr. Lucas only remembered the Teuton's sharp, decisive utterances, his piercing glances, and his large general reputation for unpleasantness as an enemy. Perhaps it was the sigh

ight on urgent business. Let him attend to it, and keep his dreams and soliloquies for the daytime. He walked across the polis

cast from the stained-glass window. If Mr. Lucas had been conversant with Keats he would doubtless have thought of St. Agnes' Eve; but

LY INTO THE POCKET OF HIS

e smiled as Mr. Meyer's pronunciation came back to him.

the Holbein for which Mr. Meyer had recently paid three thousand guineas. Lucas dropped

personality. What had that man not done? He had browbeaten an Emperor, hoodwinked a couple of wily Chancellors, and decimated the ranks of rival practitioners. Was he, John

He himself was in town-Lucas had seen him depart that morning, to make it absolutely certain-but his myrmidons were doubtless hidden around. An electric shock would suddenly hold him fast, and Meyer's butler or stage manager, or wh

is only my second burglary," he reflected apologetically. H

A

empty, was now brilliantly illuminated, and t

it is always satisfactory to find one's conclusions brove correct. I taught you would have to return to make some final no

Mr. Meyer betray any resentment at his presence, but there was a thinly di

de view I have here, Mr. Lucas

n the waters of the Channel. Clouds were scurrying ac

eep and treacherous. One always knows what to exbect, but

d-er-bathing," respon

g and bading when I look on de sea. I tink of all dat is above it, and below it. On de top, ships carrying men and women and children to continents; below de waves, dead men and women and children, dose who have died by de way,

uld have met and fought any day, at a moment's notice, but smooth words and soliloquies, how could he me

ion is de new brescription de doctors are giving to dis country." He turned away from the window, after

y observatory, where we went de odder day. I go up dose steps to my delescope, and br

ed the burg

sort. What does it tell of? Of life run down, as many men's are. But after all, de moon had its day. It was not cut off in its prime, like some men'

s did no

wasting your life entering my house in de mittle of de night to take photokraphs, when de stars are singing outside, and de world is calling for de man who, as Dommas Carlyle says, is no

. The little man's voice rose, his eyes gleamed, his

you do dis-sport dat eats up your race, and makes men like me your master. You take your gun and kill. See," pointing through th

outed Lucas

life-for sport. You rob me. Dat is a smaller ding, but it is

e wall to be ready for emergencies.

said Meyer. "I have got him

a pair of handcuffs. "I'll take him across to Bournemouth,

at you and I and Mr. Marvell, de clever detective, should be here, Mr. Lucas? No

red volume fr

are all entered up here, all our public appearances, d

r of Viscount Morecambe. Educated Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Owns twenty tousand acres. Ad

, in dis room wid Mr. Meyer whom you have robbed, and a detective, and de Bo

er the leave

treet, E.C., and St. George's Island, Bournemouth.' Dat is all. Dere are no clubs and no acres. I have de orders because I did service to England and France. I am M.A. of London Univers

suggested Mr. Marvell, who w

rsity and reader of Blato, letting alone de odder dings. He shall go free, and Mr. Marvell, you will blease forket de inci

ll neider kill nor rob akain, because it is de wish of Mr. Adolph Me

Take it, since you want it. Show it to your friends, and say dat Mr. Meyer, who is M.A. of London University, Commander,

ed them in his pocket. He was too well trained to show the i

ed to speak, but once more

n my marine villa. To be here I had dis afternoon to postpone an interview wid de Turkish Ambassador, which I have since learnt by telekram from Constantinople has been misconstrued. De Sultan will not sleep much to-night, and in de mornin

ruptly on his heels

iant moonshine they went along the terrace by the stone dogs, an

to suspect my errand?"

ve smiled a

that about the magazine article, and when you asked to see round the house Mr. Meyer was certain that you had some special object in view. When you inquired after the miniatures he knew what you were

who I was, and why I

ell you that some day later on, Sir R

sea, and the detective wen

e Secretary produced the Holbein miniature, and read a letter from

wing to the forbearance of the same gentleman. Under the circumstances I think we have no option but to accept the resignation of Sir Rupert, who does not appear to have acted with the adroitness which is a necessary qualificatio

er, which demands a reply. Colonel Altamont, as the doyen of

e amidst gen

xistence is now known to the outside world. Twice has this detective, Marvell, been within reach of us. Someone has bet

For his courtesy we wish to express our hearty thanks and appreciation; but for his suggest

re re-echoed

ring about its end. Surely the fact that we are watched should give an added zest to our proceedings, which have been all too monotonously serene. The knowledge

that I would have suffered a long period of incarceration rather than have surrendered my right to act as a free and independent Englishman; but Ingletree, having accepted his liberty on Mr. Meyer's

behaviour during the last few days that he is not the man he was when he paid his entranc

Henderson's fee. Sir Rupert Ingletree entered

reciate his reason for adopting the medium of the Postmaster-General for communicating with us. I therefore propose that Sir Rupert Ingletree's resignation be accepted, and that, with the Holbein picture, which we at once return to its owner in accordance with