such a position as this; and she looked so beautiful-so beautiful!

The latter consideration was not without its effect on him, even in the exercise of his profession. 'Gentleman Jim,' as his mates affirmed in their nervous English, became a fool of the deepest crimson dye whenever a woman was concerned, and this woman was in his eyes as an angel of light.

Nevertheless, instinctively rather than of intention, he muttered hoarsely

'Drop it, miss, I warn you. One word out loud and I'll shoot, as sure as you stand there.'

'Shoot away!' she answered with perfect composure; 'you will save me the trouble of giving an alarm. They expect it, and are waiting for it every moment below stairs. Light those candles, and let us see what damage you have done before you return the plunder.'

A pair of wax-candles stood on the chimneypiece, and he obeyed mechanically, wondering at himself the while. His cunning, however, had not entirely deserted him, and he left his pistol lying on the table, ready to snatch it away if she tried to take possession. It was thus he gauged her confidence, and seeing she scarcely noticed the weapon, argued that powerful assistance mustbe near at hand to render this beautiful young lady so arbitrary and so unconcerned. His admiration burst out in spite of his discomfiture and critical position.

'Well, you are a cool one!' he exclaimed, in accents of mingled vexation and approval. 'A cool one and

a stunner, I'm blessed if you ain't! No offence, but I never see your likes yet, not since I was born. Come, miss, let's cry quits. You pass me out o' this on the quiet. I dessay as I can make shift to get down without the ladder, an' I'll leave all these here gimcracks just as I found 'em. Now I've seen ye once, I'm blessed if I'd take so much as an ear-drop, unless it was in the way of a keepsake. Pass me out, miss, and I'll promise-no, I'm blowed if I think as I can promisenever to come here no more.'

Undisguised admiration-the ad

miration always acceptable to a woman when accompanied with respect-shone in Gentleman Jim's dark eyes. He seemed under a spell, and while he acknowledged its strength, had no power, nay, had no wish, to resist its influence. When on such jobs as these it was his habit to observe an unusual sobriety. He was glad now to think of his adherence to that rule. Had he been drunk, he might, peradventure, have insulted this divinity. What had come over him? He felt almost pleased to know he was in her power, and yet she treated him like the dirt beneath her feet.

'No insolence, sir,' she said, in a commanding voice. 'Let me see, first of all, that every one of my trinkets is in its place. There, that bracelet would have brought you money; those diamonds would have been valuable if you could have got them clear off. You must have learnt your trade very badly to suppose that with such things in the house we keep no guard. Come, I am willing to believe that distress brought you to this. Listen. You are in my power, and I will show you mercy. If I give you five pounds now, on the spot, and let you go, will you promise to try and get your bread as an honest man?'

The tears came in his eyes. This woman, then, that looked so like an angel, was angel all through. Yet, touched as he felt in his better nature, the proletary instinct bade him try once more if her effort to get rid of him originated in pity or fear, and he muttered, 'Guineas! make it guineas, miss, and I'll say done.'

'Not a shilling more, not a farthing,' she answered, moving her hand as if to put it on the bell-pull. 'It cannot matter to me,' she added, in a tone of the most complete indifference, but while I am about it I think I would rather be the making of an honest man than the destruction of a rogue.'

Her acting was perfect. She seemed so cold, so impassive, so completely mistress of the position, and all the time her heart was beating as the gambler's beats, albeit in winning vein, ere he lifts the box from off the imprisoned dice-as the