"Now," said Mrs. Montgomery, impatiently, "out with it! Why does my
husband send a message by you, instead of coming himself?"
"He can't come himself."
"Why can't he?"
"I am sorry to say that I am the bearer of bad news," said Paul,
gravely. "Your husband has been arrested for robbing me of a diamond
ring."
"Where is he?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery, not so much excited or overcome
as she would have been had this been the first time her husband had
fallen into the clutches of the law.
"At the street station-house. He wants you to come and see him."
"Have you got the ring back?"
"Yes."
Mrs. Montgomery was sorry to hear it. She hoped her husband might
be able to secrete it, in which case he would pass it over to her to
dispose of. Now she was rather awkwardly situated, being without money,
or the means of making any.
"I will go," she said.
Paul, who was sitting next to the door, opened it suddenly, with
unexpected effort, for the landlady, whose ear was fast to the keyhole,
staggered into the room involuntarily.
"So you were listening, ma'am, were you?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery,
scornfully.
"Yes, I was," said the landlady, rather red in the face.
"You were in good business."
"It's a better business than stealing diamond rings," retorted the
landlady, recovering herself. "I've long suspected there was something
wrong about you and your husband, ma'am, and now I know it.
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