the honesty of their intentions, they deposited him upon a landing opposite a comfortable-looking green baize door. Then they stood to recover their breath, still holding him tightly upon either side, while Jimmy as spokesman repeatedly assured him that they meant him no ill.
"It 's nothing but a necessary precaution, Mr. Brassington, we do assure you," he puffed. "You see, the cheque must be cleared. Not that we doubt your honour for a moment! You 'll find all you want in there. You can untie yourself now that you 've cut the rope, you know, and there 's everything a man can possibly want. It 's a solemn matter of honour between us, Mr. Brassington, that we 'll let you out the moment the cheque 's cleared. And there 's plenty of food and good wine, Mr. Brassington, really good wine"
"And ginger-ale, if you like the slops," added Melba; "a man like you would."
"We are very sorry," said Jimmy, by way of palliating the insult, "but you must see as well as we do that it has to be done. Not that we doubt your honour! Not for a moment!"
With these words he gave some mysterious
