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e the kidnappers。 It's pretty soft for them。 They couldn't have got a cent without me； and they never dreamed of giving me a rake…off。 I'm getting good and tired of being kidnapped for other people's benefit； and I've made up my mind that the next guy that wants me has got to e across。 See？ My proposition is fifty…fifty。 If you like it； I'm game to let you go ahead。 If you don't like it； then the deal's off； and you'll find that you've a darned poor chance of getting me。 When I was kidnapped before； I was just a kid； but I can look after myself now。 Well； what do you say？〃
Jimmy found it hard at first to say anything。 He had never properly understood the possibilities of Ogden's character before。 The longer he contemplated him； the more admirable Ann's scheme appeared。 It seemed to him that only a resolute keeper of a home for dogs would be adequately equipped for dealing with this remarkable youth。
〃This is a mercial age；〃 he said。
〃You bet it is；〃 said Ogden。 〃My middle name is business。 Say； are you working this on your own； or are you in with Buck Maginnis and his crowd？〃
〃I don't think I know Mr。 Maginnis。〃
〃He's the guy who kidnapped me the first time。 He's a rough…neck。 Smooth Sam Fisher got away with me the second time。 Maybe you're in with Sam？〃
〃No。〃
〃No； I guess not。 I heard that he had married and retired from business。 I rather wish you were one of Buck's lot。 I like Buck。 When he kidnapped me； I lived with him and he gave me a swell time。 When I left him； a woman came and interviewed me about it for one of the Sunday papers。 Sob stuff。 Called the piece 'Even Kidnappers Have Tender Hearts Beneath A Rough Exterior。' I've got it upstairs in my press…clipping album。 It was pretty bad slush。 Buck Maginnis hasn't got any tender heart beneath his rough exterior； but he's a good sort and I liked him。 We used to shoot craps。 And he taught me to chew。 I'd be tickled to death to have Buck get me again。 But； if you're working on your own； all right。 It's all the same to me； provided you meet me on the terms。〃
〃You certainly are a fascinating child。〃
〃Less of it； less of it。 I've troubles enough to bear without having you getting fresh。 Well； what about it？ Talk figures。 If I let you take me away； do we divvy up or don't we？ That's all you've got to say。〃
〃That's easily settled。 I'll certainly give you half of whatever I get。〃
Ogden looked wistfully at the writing…desk。
〃I wish I could have that in writing。 But I guess it wouldn't stand in law。 I suppose I shall have to trust you。〃
〃Honour among thieves。〃
〃Less of the thieves。 This is just a straight business proposition。 I've got something valuable to sell； and I'm darned if I'm going to keep giving it away。 I've been too easy。 I ought to have thought of this before。 All right； then； that's settled。 Now it's up to you。 You can think out the rest of it yourself。〃
He heaved himself out of the chair； and left the room。 Ann； ing down from the gallery； found Jimmy meditating。 He looked up at the sound of her step。
〃Well； that seems to make it pretty easy for us； doesn't it？〃 he said。 〃It solves the problem of ways and means。〃
〃But this is awful。 This alters everything。 It isn't safe for you to stay here。 You must go away at once。 They've found you out。 You may be arrested at any moment。〃
〃That's a side…issue。 The main point is to put this thing through。 Then we can think about what is going to happen to me。〃
〃But can't you see the risk you're running？〃
〃I don't mind。 I want to help you。〃
〃I won't let you。〃
〃You must。〃
〃But do be sensible。 What would you think of me if I allowed you to face this danger？〃
〃I wouldn't think any differently of you。 My opinion of you is a fixed thing。 Nothing can alter it。 I tried to tell you on the boat； but you wouldn't let me。 I think you're the most perfect； wonderful girl in all the world。 I've loved you since the first moment I saw you。 I knew who you were when we met for half a minute that day in London。 We were utter strangers； but I knew you。 You were the girl I had been looking for all my life。 Good Heavens； you talk of risks。 Can't you understand that just being with you and speaking to you and knowing that we share this thing together is enough to wipe out any thought of risk？ I'd do anything for you。 And you expect me to back out of this thing because there is a certain amount of danger！〃
Ann had retreated to the door； and was looking at him with wide eyes。 With other young men and there had been manywho had said much the same sort of thing to her since her debutante days she had been cool and poseda little sorry； perhaps； but in no doubt as to her own feelings and her ability to resist their pleadings。 But now her heart was racing； and the conviction had begun to steal over her that the cool and posed Ann Chester was in imminent danger of making a fool of herself。 Quite suddenly； without any sort of warning； she realised that there was some quality in Jimmy which called aloud to some corresponding quality in herselfa nebulous something that made her know that he and she were mates。 She knew herself hard to please where men were concerned。 She could not have described what it was in her that all the men she had met； the men with whom she had golfed and ridden and yachted； had failed to satisfy： but； ever since she had acquired the power of self…analysis； she had known that it was something which was a solid and indestructible part of her position。 She could not have put into words what quality she demanded in man； but she had always known that she would recognise it when she found it： and she recognised it now in Jimmy。 It was a recklessness； an irresponsibility； a cheerful dare…devilry； the plement to her own gay lawlessness。
〃Ann！〃 said Jimmy。
〃It's too late！〃
She had not meant to say that。 She had meant to say that it was impossible； out of the question。 But her heart was running away with her； goaded on by the irony of it all。 A veil seemed to have fallen from before her eyes； and she knew now why she had been drawn to Jimmy from the very first。 They were mates； and she had thrown away her happiness。
〃I've promised to marry Lord Wisbeach！〃
Jimmy stopped dead； as if the blow had been a physical one。
〃You've promised to marry Lord Wisbeach！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Butbut when？〃
〃Just now。 Only a few minutes ago。 When I was driving him to his hotel。 He had asked me to marry him before I left for England； and I had promised to give him his answer when I got back。 But when I got back； somehow I couldn't make up my mind。 The days slipped by。 Something seemed to be holding me back。 He pressed me to say that I would marry him； and it seemed absurd to go on refusing to be definite； so I said I would。〃
〃You can't love him？ Surely you don't？〃
Ann met his gaze frankly。
〃Something seems to have happened to me in the last few minutes；〃 she said； 〃and I can't think clearly。 A little while ago it didn't seem to matter much。 I liked him。 He was good…looking and good…tempered。 I felt that we should get along quite well and be as happy as most people are。 That seemed as near perfection as one could expect to get nowadays； sowell； that's how it was。〃
〃But you can't marry him！ It's out of the question！〃
〃I've promised。〃
〃You must break your promise。〃
〃I can't do that。〃
〃You must！〃
〃I can't。 One must play the game。〃
Jimmy groped for words。 〃But in this case you mustn'tit's awfulin this special case〃 He broke off。 He saw the trap he was in。 He could not denounce that crook without exposing himself。 And from that he still shrank。 Ann's prejudice against Jimmy Crocker might have its root in a trivial and absurd grievance； but it had been growing through the years； and who could say how strong it was now？
Ann came a step towards him； then paused doubtfully。 Then； as if making up her mind； she drew near and touched his sleeve。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she said。
There was a silence。
〃I'm sorry！〃
She moved away。 The door closed softly behind her。 Jimmy scarcely knew that she had gone。 He sat down in that deep chair which was Mr。 Pett's favourite； and stared sightlessly at the ceiling。 And then； how many minutes or hours later he did not know； the sharp click of the door…handle roused him。 He sprang from the chair。 Was it Ann； e back？
It was not Ann。 Round the edge of the door came inquiringly the fair head of Lord Wisbeach。
〃Oh！〃 said his lordship； sighting Jimmy。
The head withdrew itself。
〃e here！〃 shouted Jimmy。
The head appeared again。
〃Talking to me？〃
〃Yes； I was talking to you。〃
Lord Wisbeach followed his superstructure into the room。 He was outwardly all that was bland and unperturbed； but there was a wary look in the eye that cocked itself at Jimmy； and he did not move far from the door。 His fingers rested easily on the handle behind him。 He did not think it probable that Jimmy could have heard of his visit to Mrs。 Pett； but there had been something menacing in the latter's voice； and he believed in safety first。
〃They told me Miss Chester was here；〃 he said by way of relaxing any possible strain there might be in the situation。
〃And what the devil do you want with Miss Chester； you slimy； crawling second…story…worker； y