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Updated: May 20, 2025
Sogrange smiled. "You amuse yourself, Mr. Ruff," he remarked genially. "Not in the least," Peter Ruff answered. "I am serious." Sogrange watched the blue cigarette smoke come down his nose. "My dear friend," he said, "I am no amateur at this game. When I choose to play it, I am not afraid of Scotland Yard. I am not afraid," he concluded, with a little bow, "even of you!"
"I think not," he replied. "We shall know in a minute." "Then she has come to see you," Sogrange continued. "What does it mean, I wonder?" Peter shrugged his shoulders. There was a knock at the door, and his servant entered, bearing a card. "This lady would like to see you, sir, on important business," he said. "You can show her in here," Peter directed. There was a very short delay.
A criminal class exists as a matter of course. To-night we make our bow to it." "And by what means?" Peter inquired. "Our friend the hall-porter," Sogrange continued, "has given me the card of an ex-detective who will be our escort. He calls for us to-night, or rather to-morrow morning, at one o'clock. Then behold! the wand is waved, the land of adventures opens before us." Peter grunted.
Dory tells me that this man came into your employ at the last moment with a forged recommendation. He is, in effect, a dangerous thief." "You amaze me!" Sogrange exclaimed. "We are all interested in this affair," Peter Ruff said, "and my friend John Dory here is, perhaps, too modest properly to explain the matter. If you care to come with me, we can reconstruct, in a minute, the theft."
A little shiver ran through his veins. The harmless head that looked up at him was like the figure of death. It was for him to strike the blow! "Where is Bernadine now?" he asked. "Get me a morning paper and I will tell you," Sogrange declared, rising. "He was in the train which was stopped outside the Gare du Nord, on his way to England. What became of the passengers I have not heard.
Years ago I swore that the passing of Bernadine should mark my own retirement from the world in which we both lived. I shall keep my word. To-night Bernadine is dead. To-night, Sogrange, my work is finished." The Baroness began to sob again. "And I thought that you were a man," she moaned, "so gallant, so honorable "
If the choice falls upon me, I shall count upon you to help me to the end. If it falls upon you, I shall be at your right hand even when you strike the blow." "It is agreed," Peter said. "See, it is for you to call." He threw the coin high into the air. "I call heads," Sogrange decided. It fell upon the table. Peter covered it with his hand, and then slowly withdrew the fingers.
I have always loved it. England was kind to me when my own country drove me out. I have always felt grateful. It has been a sorrow to me that in so many of his schemes, in so much of his work, Bernadine should consider his own country at the expense of yours." Sogrange drew a little nearer. It began to be interesting, this. "I heard the news early this morning by telegram," she went on.
His earlier enjoyment of the meal was a little clouded from the fact that he felt himself utterly outshone in the matter of general appearance. No tailor had ever suggested to him a coat so daring and yet so perfect as that which adorned the person of the Marquis de Sogrange. The deep violet of his tie was a shade unknown in Bond Street inimitable a true education in color.
"If you will excuse me for one moment," Peter said, "while I take leave of my wife, I will rejoin you presently." Peter was absent for only a few minutes. Sogrange and the Baroness exchanged the merest commonplaces. As they all passed down the hall, Sogrange lingered behind.
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