Big Ernestine, with the aid of Mother Toulouche, prepared compresses of pomade and cotton-wool, on which she sprinkled a few drops of a yellow liquid, giving out a sickening odour. Besides this big Ernestine put inside her bodice a long phial, after making certain that the mixture, with which it was full, contained chloroform.

Then, under Mother Toulouche’s watchful eye, Ernestine prepared what was called in that world of light-fingered gentry “the mask”: a mask of cotton, which is moulded by force on the face of the victim in order to plunge him, or her, into a heavy sleep. Whilst making these sinister preparations the two women talked as they went on with their evil task. Big Ernestine said, in reply to Mother Toulouche’s questionings:

“Oh, it’s simple enough! It’s like this... When the motor-car stops I shall go to the right-hand door and begin to beg... likely enough, the Princess won’t want to hear what I have to say, but while I attract her attention, Mimile, who will be on the other side, will open the door, and will stick the compress on her mug. She won’t struggle – besides, Mimile will have hold of her – and then I’ll have had time to see where her jewels are, and how they are fastened, and then I’ll soon have them in my pocket – my deep ’un!” Mother Toulouche nodded:

“It’s arranged all right, but how will you slow down the motor?”

“Oh, that’s where the others come in; they’ll do it all right.... I expect they’re seeing to it now!”

“But, look here,” cried Mother Toulouche, “Mimile isn’t in bits then? They said he had fallen from his flier!” Big Ernestine gave a laugh:

“He fell right enough, poor little fellow, and from pretty high too – but he’s not broken a thing... not this time... a bit of luck I should say – eh?”

“He’s charmed, I’m certain,” declared Mother Toulouche. Then she said: “You spoke of the others? Who are they – the others?”

“But didn’t they tell you?” cried the surprised Ernestine, for she thought old Mother Toulouche was in the know; “why, there’s the Beadle – and the Beard.”

“Oh,” cried Mother Toulouche, much impressed; “if the Beard’s in it then it’s a serious affair!”

“Yes,” replied big Ernestine, staring hard at the old biddy, “it’s serious all right! If the chloroform doesn’t work – oh, well... they’ll bring the knife into play!” Big Ernestine looked at her little silver watch to mark the time.

“Past midnight!” she declared: “I must hurry off and see what they’re up to!”

As she was making off, Mother Toulouche stopped her.

“Have a glass of rum to start on – it puts heart into you!” The two women were quite ready for a drink together. When they had swallowed their dose, big Ernestine smacked her tongue: