"Circumstances over which I had no control," the youth replied. "But come on!" He shuddered. "I am freezing!"
Having hurried west across the bridge, they entered a long concourse. From this they emerged into a railway station. Having crossed the waiting room, the slim one entered an elevator, leaving the other to wait below.
When the slim one reappeared he was wrapped from head to toe in a great blue coat.
"Ah, this is better, _ma chere_," he murmured, as he tucked a slender arm into his companion's own and prepared to accompany her into the chill of night.
The apartment they entered half an hour later was neither large nor new. It was well furnished and gave forth an air of solid comfort. The living quarters consisted of a narrow kitchen and a fair-sized living-room. At either side of the living-room were doors that led each to a private room.
The big girl walked to the fireplace where a pile of kindling and firewood lay waiting. Having touched a match to this pile, she stood back to watch it break into a slow blaze, and then go roaring up the chimney.
"See!" she exclaimed. "How cozy we shall be in just a moment."
"Ah, yes, yes, _mon ami_!" The slight one patted her cheek. "We shall indeed. But anon--"
The private door to the right closed with a slight rush of air. The slim one had vanished.
The stout girl's gown revealed a powerful chest. Every curve of her well-formed body suggested strength, while the blonde-haired one, with all her slender shapeliness, seemed little more than a child--and a girl, at that. Yet, one cannot fully forget the dress suit that at this moment must rest upon a hanger somewhere behind that closed door.
"Well, now tell me about it," said the stout one, as, some moments later, the blonde one reappeared in a heavy dressing gown and sat down before the fire.
"A pearl necklace was stolen," the slight one said in a quiet tone. "It was worth, oh, untold sacks of gold. _Mon Dieu!_ How is one to say how much? Since I was near, I was suspected. Who can doubt it? I bolted. In the darkness I concealed myself in the drapes that seemed to hide a window and did not."
"But why did you run? You could not have done worse."
"But, _mon Dieu_! There was talk of searching us. Could I be searched?"