.

CHAPTER X.

Inside the cabin the detective hurriedly opened drawers, turned over
bed-clothes, tapped partitions and felt in boots. Then with an
expression of disappointment he turned to the door.

CHAPTER XI.

In the corridor the two men stood face to face.

"Have you found them?" asked Carmichael hoarsely.

"No. They have sunk in the sea!" replied the other.

CHAPTER XII.

Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved
swiftly. In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed
earnestly forward.

Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath. Another
boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume
was climbing into it.

The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other. It could be seen that
the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.

CHAPTER XIII.

The diver's headpiece was being unscrewed. On either side of him stood
Capperton and Carmichael, each with a loaded revolver.

At length the cumbrous helmet was lifted off and the face of the diver
was revealed.

It was Madge!

CHAPTER XIV.

The motor-boat drew up beside the quay and the Foreign Secretary stepped
out with the detective and his daughter. All were plainly in a joyous
mood, and they smiled happily at each other.

So gratified were they at their success that they quite failed to
observe three men, who crept up stealthily behind them and thrust pads
soaked in chloroform over their mouths.

In a few seconds the struggles of the victims ceased, and their inert
bodies were roughly thrust into a waiting motor.

From the driver's seat Bluetherski smiled sardonically.

CHAPTER XV.

Madge Capperton lay in a cellar of Bluetherski's house, tightly bound and
gagged. But her indomitable spirit was not yet cowed.

Using the edge of a rough stone as a saw she was laboriously severing
the cord which tied her wrists. At length her persistence was rewarded
and the frayed ends of the rope fell apart.

In fifteen seconds she stood up free.

CHAPTER XVI.

In another cellar, similarly shackled, the resolute detective was
exerting all his mighty strength to burst his bonds.

With a superhuman effort he broke the cord which held his arms, and in
fifteen seconds he also was free.

CHAPTER XVII.

In a small room in the same house the detective's daughter methodically
pressed her hand against picture after picture hung on the walls. Her
face was grimly determined.

At last sh