es was not visible when Nick looked into the room.

The bedroom adjoining was also empty.

Nick ran through the flat, but saw nobody. He returned to the parlor,
and there stood Mr. Jones under the chandelier.

"Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Jones, "how did you get here?"

"I might ask you the same," said Nick, "but it isn't worth while."

"I've been here all the time."

"Except when you were on the roof."

"Nonsense! What should I be doing on the roof."

"It wasn't what you were doing; it was what you were undoing that
bothered me. You were undoing the knot with which I fastened my rope
before I descended your air shaft to get a peep at your servant."

"Nonsense again, Mr. Carter. How could I get to the roof?"

"I'll show you just how it was done. In the first place, you saw me
coming back to the house, and you guessed what I was going to do.

"You went into this room," and Nick dragged Jones into a sort of closet
adjoining the parlor, "and you got out of that window onto the fire
escape.

"That led you to the roof, and the rest was simple. You saw me go down,
and you tried to make me go down farther and a good deal faster. But you
failed, and the game's up. Now come to headquarters again."

"What for?"

"For trying to kill me. That's the charge against you. And I haven't got
through with you on that other matter."

"But for heaven's sake pity my wife!"

"What's the matter with her?"

"She will be crazy when she gets back and finds me gone."

"One of my men will tell her where you are. Why did you lie to me about
her going out? I've a great mind to place her, too, under arrest."

"You can't do it. It's no crime to dodge a detective. I admit that she
did it, but for a very innocent purpose. She has gone to see our
lawyer."

"Very well; I will attend to that later. Now, come with me."

Nick took Jones to the street. Musgrave got a policeman, and Jones was
put in his care.

Musgrave remained on the watch for Mrs. Jones, while Nick went to get a
report from Patsy, who was shadowing Gaspard.

Jones' last words to Nick were these:

"I am a victim of circumstances. I had nothing to do with the murder in
the restaurant, nor with any attempt upon your life. You are doing me a
grave injustice. If you were not as blind as a bat you would see who the
real criminals are."

These words were pronounced in a calm and steady tone, and it cannot be
denied that they produced a great effect upon Nick.

"If