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"Your jolly old uncle has just told me that I sent the locket up to him by
you--thanked me for it. Knew nothing about it, I assure you! Imagined that
thug fellow had it--sentTogo chasing after Marlowe to watch the chap--"
Silvia's laugh interrupted him.
"I told you that perhaps I could help, John," she said.
"My word!Can't understand it at all!"
"Why, John Warwick! When the lights went out and those men came over the
railing, I suspected that it was a trick to get the locket. I slipped to one
side and finally got right behind that man Marlowe I heard him whispering to
the other men as they were using the chloroform. He took the locket himself,
John, at that moment. There was a hit of light from the arc on the corner, and
I could see by crouching against the wall. He took the locket and slipped it
into his waistcoat pocket."
"But that was dangerous--"
"Silly! If there had been a search, he would have pretended that he had just
picked it up."
"I suppose so. But how didyou get the locket?"
"I got it while I was dancing with him, John--picked his pocket, you see."
"My word!"Warwickgasped. "You picked a chap's pocket?"
"Yes. It wasn't at all difficult, John. Remember, you foolish boy, I have a
strain of The Spider's blood in my veins. It was that Spider strain that
called upon me to do it. I wanted to help you--and it was a sort of
adventure--"
"See here!"Warwick exclaimed. "You were deuced lucky, and you must never do
such a thing again. Suppose he had felt in his pocket afterward and found the
thing gone? He would have suspected you at once."
"Oh, he did feel in his pocket!"
"But--"
"But, you see, John, when I took the locket. I slipped in its place a small
portiere ring that I had taken from the draperies in the hall. He merely felt
the ring and thought that it was the locket. See?"
"My word!"
"And then, John--"
But she did not finish the sentence. She could not with his lips pressed
against hers.
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