wouldn't have been necessary if you and the White Moll
had both come together, for then you would neither of you have got any
further than that other room. It would have ended there. But we weren't
taking any chances. I'll pay you the compliment of admitting that we
weren't counting on getting you off your guard any too easily if, as
it happened, you came alone, for, being alone, or if either of you were
alone, there was that little proposition that had to be settled, instead
of just knocking you on the head out there in the dark in that other
room; and so, as I say, we weren't overlooking any bets on account of
the little trouble it took to plant that table and the money. We
tried to think of everything!" Danglar paused for a moment to mock the
Adventurer with narrowed eyes. "That's the story; here's the end. I
hoped I'd get you both together, you and the White Moll. I didn't. But
I've got you. I didn't get you both--and that's what gives you a chance
for your life, because she's worth more to us than you are. If you'd
been together, you would have gone out-together. As it is, I'll see that
you don't do any more harm anyway, but you get one chance. Where is she?
If you answer that, you will, of course, answer a minor question and
locate that 'leak', for me, that I was speaking about a moment ago. But
we'll take the main thing first. And you can take your choice between a
bullet and a straight answer. Where is the White Moll?"

Rhoda Gray's hand felt Out along the wall for support. Was this a dream,
some ghastly, soul-terrifying nightmare! Danglar! Those working lips!
That callous viciousness, that leer in the degenerate face. It seemed
to bring a weakness to her limbs, and seek to rob her of the strength to
stand. She could not even hope against hope; she knew that Danglar was
in deadly earnest. Danglar would not have the slightest compunction, let
alone hesitation, in carrying out his threat. Terrified now, her eyes
sought the Adventurer. Didn't the Adventurer know Danglar as she
knew him, didn't he realize that there was deadly earnestness behind
Danglar's words? Was the man mad, that he stood there utterly unmoved,
as though he had no consideration on earth other than those carefully
manicured finger nails of his!

And then Danglar spoke again.

"Do you notice anything special about this gun I'm holding on you?" he
demanded, in low menace.

The Adventurer did not even look up.

"Oh, yes," he said indifferently