“Virtuous sorts aren’t any use to our lot!... Well, what did she tell you – out with it!”

“Well,” said Redhead. “I waited three-quarters of an hour before Nadine joined me.... I had no bother in making her talk, I can tell you: even without the asking she told me everything... she was pretty well flabbergasted with all the jewels her mistress had stuck on her clothes and her skin....

Seems there’s hundreds of thousands worth!... All pearls and diamonds! Nothing but...”

Mother Toulouche was calculating:

“Real pearls, real diamonds – it’s possible there’s all that worth...”

Steps could be heard on the pavement just outside.

Redhead began to shake all over:

“Who is it?” he gasped. “Someone coming in?” Mother Toulouche grinned:

“Be easy now! Haven’t I told you there’s nothing to fear?” Nevertheless he asked anxiously:

“There’s nothing more I’m wanted for here is there?

I’ve told you all I know.”

“No, no, it’s all right!” replied Mother Toulouche, trying to be maternal and conciliating, “there’s nothing more for you to do here.... Still, if you want to see big Ernestine...” Without waiting to hear the end of her sentence Redhead hurried towards the exit. Mother Toulouche did not try to detain him.

“After all,” she said in a low tone to his back as a kind of farewell, “cut and run, my lad... since you’re scared witless!”

When alone she grumbled aloud:

“What a lot they are!... I never did!... Lily-livered, and for nothing at all!”

Mother Toulouche was still muttering when big Ernestine marched in through the back way. She had on a large hat and was heavily veiled. She proceeded to remove both hat and veil.

“Well?” she queried.

“They’ve got on to it all right! Redhead has just gone! He knows through the little maid that the Princess went off to the ball, dressed up to the nines – hung with jewels like a shrine!”

Big Ernestine uttered a deep sigh of satisfaction: her only reply was to hustle the old receiver.

“Look alive, Mother Toulouche!... You’ve got to give me a beggar’s outfit: it’s up to you to see I’m disguised properly, and there’s not a minute to lose either!” Mother Toulouche was an expert at disguises and make-up of every sort: this was not to be wondered at considering the rum company she kept, and the fraudulent business she carried on, and the smuggling she was mixed up in!

Big Ernestine, disguised as a poverty-stricken creature and rendered unrecognisable, looked exactly like some unfortunate reduced to soliciting alms. She walked into the backstore, and helped Mother Toulouche to take from a cupboard some bottles, bandages, and medicated cotton-wool. By the light of a smoky lamp the two women scrutinised the labels, sniffing thee various phials and flasks.