mocked; "that's quite some production,
don't you think? And now, as this letter has served its purpose, I'll
take the liberty of destroying it," tearing it into bits and putting the
bits in his pockets, "lest one of us be liable for forgery. Now for the
pocket-book; you found something in mine, you may remember, Mr.
Harleston."

Harleston gave a faint chuckle. They would find nothing in his
pocket-book but some visiting and membership cards, a couple of
addresses and a few yellow-backs and silver certificates.

"The letter doesn't seem to be there--which I much regret, but these
visiting cards may be useful in our business; with your permission I'll
take them. Thank you, Mr. Harleston."

He folded the book and returned it to Harleston's pocket.

"I might have looked in your shoes, or done something disagreeable--I
believe I even promised to smash your face when I got the
opportunity--but I'm better disposed now. I shall return good for evil;
instead of tying you up as you did me, I'll release you from your bonds
if you give me your word to remain quiet in this room until tomorrow
morning at eight, and not to disclose to anyone, before that hour, what
has occurred here."

"After that?" said Harleston.

"You shall be at liberty to depart and to tell."

"And if I do not give my word?"

"Then," said Crenshaw pleasantly, "we shall be obliged to bind you and
gag you and leave you to be discovered by the maid--which, we shall
carefully provide, will not be before eight tomorrow morning."

"You leave small choice," Harleston observed.

"Just the choice between comfort and discomfort!" Crenshaw laughed.
"Which shall it be, sir?"

Harleston had been shifting slowly from one foot to the other, feeling
behind him for the man with the garrote. He had him located now and the
precise position where he was standing--one of his own legs was touching
Sparrow's.

At the instant Crenshaw had finished his question, Harleston suddenly
kicked backwards, landing with all the force of his sharp heel full on
Sparrow's shin.

Instantly the garrote loosened; and Harleston, with a wild yell, sprang
forward and swung straight at the point of Crenshaw's jaw.

Crenshaw dodged it--and the two men grappled and went down, fighting
furiously; Harleston letting out shouts all the while, and even managing
to overturn a table, which fell with a terrific smash of broken glass
and bric-a-brac, to attract attention and lead to an investigation