He remembered the cat.

Funkelstein made a sudden lunge at Hugh, his face pale with hatred and anger.  But a blow from Falconer’s huge fist, travelling faster than the point of his weapon, stretched him on the floor.  Such was Falconer’s impetus, that it hurled both him and the table across the fallen villain.  Falconer was up in a moment.  Not so Funkelstein.  There was plenty of time for Hugh to secure the rapier, and for Falconer to secure its owner, before he came to himself.

“Where’s my ring?” said Hugh, the moment he opened his eyes.

“Gentlemen, I protest,” began Funkelstein, in a voice upon which the cord that bound his wrists had an evident influence.

“No chaff!” said Falconer.  “We’ve got all our feathers.  Hand over the two rings, or be the security for them yourself.”

“What witness have you against me?”

“The best of witnesses —­ Miss Cameron.”

“And me,” added Hugh.

“Gentlemen, I am very sorry.  I yielded to temptation.  I meant to restore the diamond after the joke had been played out, but I was forced to part with it.”

“The joke is played out, you see,” said Falconer.  “So you had better produce the other bauble you stole at the same time.”

“I have not got it.”

“Come, come, that’s too much.  Nobody would give you more than five shillings for it.  And you knew what it was worth when you took it.  Sutherland, you stand over him while I search the room.  This portrait may as well be put out of the way first.”

As he spoke, Falconer tore the portrait and threw it into the fire.  He then turned to a cupboard in the room.  Whether it was that Funkelstein feared further revelations, I do not know, but he quailed.

“I have not got it,” he repeated, however.

“You lie,” answered Falconer.

“I would give it you if I could.”

“You shall.”

The Bohemian looked contemptible enough now, despite the handsomeness of his features.  It needed freedom, and the absence of any urgency, to enable him to personate a gentleman.  Given those conditions, he succeeded.  But as soon as he was disturbed, the gloss vanished, and the true nature came out, that of a ruffian and a sneak.  He quite quivered at the look with which Falconer turned again to the cupboard.

“Stop,” he cried; “here it is.”

And muttering what sounded like curses, he pulled out of his bosom the ring, suspended from his neck

“Sutherland,” said Falconer, taking the ring, “secure that rapier, and be careful with it.  We will have its point tested.  Meantime,” —­ here he turned again to his prisoner —­ “I give you warning that the moment I leave this house, I go to Scotland Yard. —­ Do you know the place?  I there recommend the police to look after you, and they will mind what I say.  If you leave London, a message will be sent, wherever you go, that you had better be watched.  My advice to you is, to stay where you are as long as you can.  I shall meet you again.”