"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. I don't want no thieves nor jail birds in my house, and the
sooner you pay your bill and leave, the better I'll like it."
"I'll leave as soon as you like, but I can't pay your bill."
"I dare say," retorted the landlady. "You're a nice character to
cheat an honest woman out of four weeks' board.
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