"It's a hold-up--a bully one, too.

Makes one feel quite homesick, eh?
How much have you got on you ?" "Precious little, thank heavens!" Richard muttered.
His eyes were fixed upon the brigand who was collecting the jewels, and who was now approaching Miss Grex.

He felt something tingling in his blood.

One of the guests began to talk excitedly.

The man who was apparently the leader, and who was standing at the door with an electric torch in one hand and a revolver in the other, stepped a little forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "once more I beg you not to be alarmed.
So long as you part with your valuables peaceably, you will be at liberty to depart as soon as every one has been dealt with.