Chu on this job, Léontine to dispose of the loot afterwards; so that, in jumping on Chu-Chu's back at this particular moment, I had probably done the concern out of at least a hundred thousand francs. And, now that I come to think of it, Léontine herself had looked rather sick when I met her in the park.
This was mighty serious business—more serious, as a matter of fact, than my feud with Chu-Chu. Ivan had squared things between us when he gave me back Mary Dalghren's pearls, and he had acted handsomely and on the level. Now, he might easily say to himself: "Being neutral is one thing, but standing pat while this virtuous young man interferes with my star worker, and takes the bread out of the mouths of the lot of us, is another. I will give orders that he be eliminated."
And I knew that, once such orders were issued from headquarters, it would be all up with me. Those ferrets of Ivan's would have been hanging from my throat in a week's time, no matter how deep I burrowed. The association was rooted in Paris like a cancer, and there was no telling where its fibres might penetrate. If Ivan made up his mind that I was de trop I would probably never know what finished me. The best thing, I thought, would be to go to Ivan and tell him how the thing had happened, and assure him that I had no intention of interfering with his work, even if I had chucked the game myself. Sounds a bit weak-livered? Well, maybe so; but, after all, there are limits to the nerve-strain a man can stand when it's long-continued; also, I'd like to state, it's the dash of
