very evident that I have been tricked."

Saumarez laughed--a low laugh of enjoyment.

"You certainly came here under a false impression," he sniggered; "as
for the reason of your coming, you will soon know it. Now, to begin
with, where is the key of the safe at 190 Monmouth Street. You have
been thoroughly searched and we cannot find it.

"You are not likely to," I answered. "It is in a place where you
cannot get at it."

"Indeed!" replied Saumarez. "What place is that?"

"I shall not tell you."

"We shall see," he remarked laconically.

As he spoke, he motioned to the two men to do something with the box on
the table.

As they moved towards it, I heard the double report of a sporting gun
not far off. Evidently some one was out shooting.

The men went to the table, and, taking off the square lid of the box,
disclosed a large galvanic battery!

My blood began to run cold as an awful idea formed itself in my mind.

"Secure him in the chair!" Saumarez said sharply in German.

Before the men could reach me, I darted out of the chair towards the
door, but they were too quick for me and caught me before I reached it.
They carried me back struggling to the chair, and one held me down in
it while the other passed thick straps round me, holding me fast in it,
hand and foot. I found, when they had done with me, that my two hands
were strapped firmly to the glass arms of the chair.

Lying back in the chair I noticed high up in the roof an old cobwebbed
window, the top of which was standing open for purposes of ventilation.
It looked as if it had not been interfered with for years.

In the position I was in, I could not very well see what was going on
in the room, but the next thing I experienced was feeling my wrists
being encircled apparently with wire. I gave one convulsive struggle
to get free, but it was useless I knew well now what they were going
to do.

They were going to torture me by giving me galvanic shocks, and passing
strong currents through my body.

I had heard of the torture being applied in Russia to political
prisoners.

I had, when a boy, patronised those machines which professed to try
one's "nerve." I had held the two handles and watched the proprietor
draw out the rod from the coil to increase the strength of the current.
I knew how unbearable _that_ feeling could become even with a _weak_
battery. What would it be with this _strong_ one?

Saumarez' voice broke in upon me.