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Rh confessed to me that he had stolen his wife's pearls."

Ivan, whose lustrous eyes had never left mine, made an involuntary gesture, then controlled himself.

"Yes," said I, "Cuttynge was pressed by certain obligations and stole the pearls. He sold them outright, knowing that he could never explain their return. His confession proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that your dealings with me had been fair and generous. Now, my dear Count, you could have me assassinated at any time that suited your convenience, and no one would be the wiser. I have always detested the idea of a man's turning honest and then betraying his old pals to save his pelt. I won't do it. I wouldn't do it living, nor would I do it dead. As for your asking me for my word that I will never place any information injurious to you, it is not necessary. But since you ask for it, I give it. As long as you do not interfere in my feud with Chu-Chu I will never betray you."

Ivan bowed.

"That's quite enough, Mr. Clamart," said he. "You have nothing to fear from me. Fight it out with Chu-Chu. I hope you kill him." He scowled again, and his handsome face underwent a lightning change from that of the polite man of the world to that of the criminal, which lies so near the surface in every professional thief.

"I have had enough of Chu-Chu," he snarled.

"Then why not back my own play?" I asked quickly. "No. That could not be done. It would be bad