The merchant prince was seized with a fit of trembling.
"Robbers! in my house! Astounding, a-s-t-o-u-n-d-i-n-g! How did they get in?"
"By your son's night-key, and the front door. You see I was arter these crackmen to-night, and found 'em in a garret of the Yaller Mug. You never patronize the Yaller Mug, do you?"
Mr. Somers nodded "No," with a spasmodic shake of the head.
"Jist afore I pitched into 'em, I listened outside of the garret door, and overheard their plot to conceal themselves in Evelyn's room, until you'd all gone to bed, and then commence operations on your cash-box and jugular. One o' 'em's a convict o' eleven years' standin'. He's been regularly initiated into all the honors of Auburn and Cherry Hill."
"Do you see this coverlet about my head? That's what I got for attemptin' it. They escaped from the garret, by getting upon the roof, and jumpin' down on a shed. If my calculations are correct, they're up-stairs jist now, preparin' for their campaign on your cash-box and jugular."--
"Cash-box! I have no cash-box. My cash is all in bank!"
"Gammon. It won't do. Behind yer seat is yer iron safe,--one o' th' Salamanders; you're got ten thousand in gold, in _that_."
"They intend to blow up the lock with powder, after they'd fixed your _jugular_."
Mr. Somers clasped his hands, and shook like a leaf.
"What's to be done, what's to be done!" he cried in perfect agony.
"There's six o' my fellows outside. I've got a special warrant from the authorities. Now, if you've a key to Evelyn's rooms, we'll just go up-stairs and search 'em. You can stand outside, while we go in. But no noise,--no fuss you know."
"But they'll murder you," cried the merchant, "they'll murder me. They'll,"--
Blossom drew a six-barreled revolver from one pocket, and a slung-shot from the other.
"This is my _settler_," he elevated his revolver, "and this, my _gentle persuader_," he brandished the slung-shot.
"Oh!" cried Mr. Somers, "property is no longer respected,--ah! what times we've fallen in!"
"The servants sleep in the fourth story, over Evelyn's room. The housekeeper sleeps under Evelyn's room, and my room and the room of my private secretary are just above where I am sitting."
"Good. Now take the candle, and come," responded Blossom, "we want you as a witness."