Brother Burge was in the toils again, and the jeweller despite his fears could not help realizing what a sensation the story of his temptation would create. Brother Burge was now going round and round his room like an animal in a cage, and sounds as of a soul wrought almost beyond endurance smote upon the listener's quivering ear. Then there was a long silence more alarming even than the noise of the conflict. Had Brother Burge won, and was he now sleeping the sleep of the righteous, or– Mr. Higgs shivered and put his other ear to the wall. Then he heard his guest move stealthily across the floor; the boards creaked and the handle of the door turned.
Mr. Higgs started, and with a sudden flash of courage born of anger and desperation seized a small brass poker from the fire-place, and taking the candle in his other hand went out on to the landing again. Brother Burge was closing his door softly, and his face when he turned it upon the jeweller was terrible in its wrath. His small eyes snapped with fury, and his huge hands opened and shut convulsively.
"What, agin!" he said in a low growl. "After all I told you!"
Mr. Higgs backed slowly as he advanced.
"No noise," said Mr. Burge in a dreadful whisper. "One scream and I'll— What were you going to do with that poker?"
He took a stealthy step forward.
"I—I," began the jeweller. His voice failed him. "Burglars," he mouthed, "downstairs."
"What?" said the other, pausing.
Mr. Higgs threw truth to the winds. "I heard them in the shop," he said, recovering, "that's why I took up the poker. Can't you hear them?"
Mr. Burge listened for the fraction of a second. "Nonsense," he said huskily.
"I heard them talking," said the other recklessly. "Let's go down and call the police."
"Call 'em from the winder," said Brother Burge, backing with some haste, "they might 'ave pistols or something, and they're ugly customers when they're disturbed."
He stood with strained face listening.
"Here they come," whispered the jeweller with a sudden movement of alarm.
Brother Burge turned, and bolting into his room clapped the door to and locked it. The jeweller stood dumbfounded on the landing; then he heard the window go up and the voice of Brother Burge, much strengthened by the religious exercises of the past six months, bellowing lustily for the police.
For a few seconds Mr. Higgs stood listening and wondering what explanation he should give. Still thinking, he ran downstairs, and, throwing open the pantry window, unlocked the door leading into the shop and scattered a few of his cherished possessions about the floor. By the time he had done this, people were already beating upon the street-door and exchanging hurried remarks with Mr. Burge at the window above. The jeweller shot back the bolts, and half-a-dozen neighbours, headed by the butcher opposite, clad in his nightgown and armed with a cleaver, burst into the passage. A constable came running up just as the pallid face of Brother Burge peered over the balusters. The constable went upstairs three at a time, and twisting his hand in the ex-burglar's neck-cloth bore him backwards.
"I've got one," he shouted. "Come up and hold him while I look round."
The butcher was beside him in a moment; Brother Burge struggling wildly, called loudly upon the name of Brother Higgs.
"That's all right, constable," said the latter, "that's a friend of mine."
"Friend o' yours, sir?" said the disappointed officer, still holding him.
The jeweller nodded. "Mr. Samuel Burge the Converted Burglar," he said mechanically.
"Conver–" gasped the astonished constable. "Converted burglar? Here!"
"He is a preacher now," added Mr. Higgs.
"Preacher?" retorted the constable. "Why it's as plain as a pikestaff. Confederates: his part was to go down and let 'em in."
Mr. Burge raised a piteous outcry. "I hope you may be forgiven for them words," he cried piously.
"What time did you go up to bed?" pursued the constable.
"About half-past eleven," replied Mr. Higgs.
The other grunted with satisfaction. "And he's fully dressed, with his boots off," he remarked. "Did you hear him go out of his room at all?"
"He did go out," said the jeweller truth-fully, "but–"