Page:Vance--The rass bowl.djvu/188

 "I am Maitland."

"But if they insisted on searching you. …" She was round-eyed with apprehension.

"That's so!" Her perturbation was infectious. His jaw dropped.

"They would find the jewels—known to be stolen"

"By God!" he cried savagely.

"Dan!"

"I—I beg your pardon. But … what am I to do? You are sure?"

"McClusky himself is on the nearest corner!"

"Phew!" he whistled; and stared at her, searchingly, through a lengthening pause.

"Dan. …" said she at length.

"Yes?"

"There is a way. …"

"Go on."

"Last night, Dan"—she raised her glorious eyes to his—"last night, I … I trusted you."

His face hardened ever so slightly; yet when he took thought the tense lines about his eyes and