was the power that emanated from this
extraordinary man, that though we both knew the crucial moment of our
enterprise had arrived, while his eyes were fixed upon us, neither of us
could stir an inch. When he spoke his voice seemed to cut like a knife.

"So you think my game is up, Mr. Hatteras, do you? I'm afraid once more
I must differ from you. Look behind you."

I did so, and that glance showed me how cleverly we'd been trapped.
Leaning against the door, watching us with cruel, yet smiling eyes, was
our old enemy Prendergast, revolver in hand. Just behind me were two
powerful Soudanese, while near the Marquis was a man looking like a
Greek--and a very stalwart Greek at that. Observing our discomfiture,
Nikola seated himself in a big chair near the fireplace and folded his
hands in the curious fashion I have before described; as he did so his
black cat sprang to his shoulder and sat there watching us all. Dr.
Nikola was the first to speak.

"Mr. Hatteras," he said, with devilish clearness and deliberation, "you
should really know me better by this time than to think you could outwit
me so easily. Is my reputation after all so small? And, while I think of
it, pray let me have the pleasure of returning to you your five pound
note and your letters. Your mice were perfect messengers, were they
not?" As he spoke he handed me the selfsame Bank of England note I had
despatched through the pipe that very evening in payment for the file;
then he shook from a box he had taken from the chimney-piece all the
communications I had written imploring assistance from the outside
world. To properly estimate my chagrin and astonishment would be very
difficult. I could only sit and stare, first at the money and then at
the letters, in blankest amazement. So we had not been rescued by the
cripple after all. Was it possible that while we had been so busy
arranging our escape we had in reality been all the time under the
closest surveillance? If that were so, then this knowledge of our doings
would account for the silence with which my attack upon the door had
been received. Now we were in an even worse position than before. I
looked at Beckenham, but his head was down and his right hand was
picking idly at the table edge. He was evidently waiting for what was
coming next.

In sheer despair I turned to Nikola. "Since you have outwitted us again,
Dr. Nikola, do not play with us--tell us straight out what our fate is
to be."

"If it me