"Narkom! You got him, then--got him after all?"

"No, I did not get him. I doubt if any man could, if he chose not to be
found," said Narkom bitterly. "I did not recover these jewels by any act
of my own. He sent them to me; gave them up voluntarily."

"Gave them up? After he had risked so much to get them? God bless my
soul, what a man! Why, there must be quite half here of what he took."

"There is half--an even half. He sent them to-night, and with them this
letter. Look at it, and you will understand why I sent for you and asked
you to come alone."

"There's some good in even the devil, I suppose, if one but knows how to
reach it and stir it up," Sir Horace read. "I have lived a life of crime
from my very boyhood because I couldn't help it, because it appealed to
me, because I glory in risks and revel in dangers. I never knew where it
would lead me--I never thought, never cared--but I looked into the
gateway of heaven last night, and I can't go down the path to hell any
longer. Here is an even half of Miss Wyvern's jewels. If you and her
father would have me hand over the other half to you, and would have
'The Vanishing Cracksman' disappear forever, and a useless life
converted into a useful one, you have only to say so to make it an
accomplished thing. All I ask in return is your word of honour (to be
given to me by signal) that you will send for Sir Horace Wyvern to be at
your office at eleven o'clock to-night, and that you and he will grant
me a private interview unknown to any other living being. A red and
green lantern hung over the doorway leading to your office will be the
signal that you agree, and a violet light in your window will be the
pledge of Sir Horace Wyvern. When these two signals, these two pledges,