"Burglars!" said one of the singers; and then: "Go to bed. You're drunk."
More sounds of windows, the blowing of night whistles and hurrying feet.
A stout policeman, clamorous and bellicose, broke in.
"Did you see 'em? Did you see 'em?" he cried, glaring into their faces. Bleary eyes returned his look.
"Burglars," roared the copper. "If I wasn't busy I'd run ye in." And he was off at full speed on his vagrant mission.
"Lucky you're busy, old chap," muttered Crabb to the departing figure. "Do sober up a little, Ross, or we'll never get away. And don't jostle me so, for I clank like a bellwether."
Slowly the pair made their way to Thomas Circle and Vermont Avenue, where the sounds of commotion were lost in the noises of the night.
At L Street Burnett straightened up. "Lord!" he gasped. "But that was close."
"Not as close as it looked," said Crabb, coolly. "A white shirt-front does wonders with a copper. It was better than a knock on the head and a run for it. In the meanwhile, Ross, for the love of Heaven, help me with some of the bric-à-brac." And with that he handed Burnett a gold pin tray, a silver box and a watch fob.
Burnett soberly examined the spoils. "I only wish we could have done without that."
"And had Arnim know what we were driving for? Never, Ross. I'll pawn them in New York for as little as I can and send von Schlichter the tickets. Won't that do?"
"I suppose it must," said Burnett, dubiously.
By three o'clock they were on the _Blue Wing_ again, Burnett with mingled feelings of doubt and satisfaction, Crabb afire with the achievement.
"Rasselas was a fool, Ross, a malcontent--a _fainéant_. Life is amazing, bewitching, consummate." And then, gayly: "Here's a health, boy--a long life to the new ambassador to the Court of St. James!"
But Ross did not go to the Court of St. James. In the following winter, to the surprise of many, the President gave him a special mission to prepare a trade treaty with Peru. Baron Arnim, in due course, recovered his bric-à-brac. Meanwhile Emperor William, mystified at the amazing sagacity of the Secretary of State in the Eastern question, continues the building of a mighty navy in the fear that one day the upstart nation across the ocean will bring the questions complicating them to an issue.