ectrify an audience from the stage, she crossed the adjoining
room, which was in darkness, and reached the front window.

One glance through the lace draperies was enough.

Nick Carter was just alighting from his carriage.

Cervera darted back and rejoined Venner.

"It is Carter--Nick Carter himself!" she fiercely whispered, with all
the fire of her passionate Spanish nature ablaze in her eyes.

"Carter! Good God!"

"Be off, Rufe, and leave him to me!"

"To you alone?"

"Yes."

"He already is on your track for this crime."

"I'll foil him yet! Leave him to me alone!" Cervera fiercely cried. "Be
off by the back stairs, then through the stable and the side alley. Go
to your own home, and from there signal Kilgore to have the secret way
to the plant open for me. Here--the paper! Take it away with you! I'll
elude Carter--"

"But he may arrest you at once," protested Venner, excitedly. "If he
does--"

"_Caramba!_ do you stop to question?" Cervera furiously interrupted. "If
he takes me from this house he will take me--dead!"

"But--"

"Quick--he's at the door! Leave him to me alone, and do what I told you!
Away! There's the bell!"

Venner caught up his coat, darted down the back stairs and quickly
departed by the way mentioned.

At the same time, while Nick's summons was still echoing through the
great house, Sanetta Cervera swept haughtily through the main hall,
switched on the electric light, and then opened the front door.

She appeared as cool and composed as if she had just arisen from her
dinner.

Yet in the vestibule stood the one man whom she had most cause to fear,
the man who now held her fate in his hand--Nick Carter.

CHAPTER XIII.

CRAFTY CERVERA.

"Good-evening, Mr. Venner. Oh, it's not you!"

"Oh, yes, 'tis!" said Nick, dryly. "It's I all right, and I'm it. You
appear surprised at seeing me, Senora Cervera."

Cervera had begun, then stopped, then uttered the startled exclamation;
and all with the utmost coolness, with the air of one stirred only by
genuine surprise, and as if without the slightest fear or dismay upon
beholding Nick Carter in the vestibule.

So perfectly natural was her artful assumption, that it rather deceived
Nick for a short time.

In response to his dry remarks, the artful jade now nodded and began to
laugh.

"Surprised? Well, rather!" she exclaimed, in animated tones. "I was
expecting our mutual friend, dear Mr. Venner, and supposed it was he who