"Nothing of the sort," said Mrs. Champney sharply. "It's Ernest
Wilson,--isn't it, Ernest?"

"Take off them rings," was the answer she got.

"What is this man doing here, Crittenden?" demanded Mrs. Champney,
paying no heed to Smilk's command.

"He's a burglar," replied Mr. Yollop. "I guess you'd better take off
your rings, Alice."

"Do you mean to tell me, Ernest Wilson, that you've gone back to
your evil ways after all I,--"

"I say, Cassius," cried Mr. Yollop, "is this the woman you wanted to
bind and gag and--and--"

"Yes, and rap over the bean," finished Mr. Smilk, as the speaker
considerately refrained.

"Rap over the--what?" inquired Mrs. Champney, squinting.

"The bean," said Mr. Smilk, with emphasis.

"I can't imagine what has come over you, Ernest. You were such a
nice, quiet, model prisoner,--one of the most promising I ever had
anything to do with. The authorities assured me that you--do you
mean to tell me that you entered this apartment for the purpose of
robbing it? Don't answer! I don't want to hear your voice again. You
have given me the greatest disappointment of my life. I trusted you,