d of
hearing it," Julian replied. "I will not."

"Will you let me try to prove to you," Fenn begged, "that by the
retention of that packet you are doing your country an evil service?"

"If you talked till doomsday," Julian assured him, "I should not believe
a word you said."

"In that case," Fenn began slowly, with an evil glitter in his eyes!!!!!

"Well, for heaven's sake finish the thing this time!" Julian
interrupted. "I'm sick of playing the laboratory rabbit for you. If you
are out for murder, finish the job and have done with it."

Bright was playing with another tube which he had withdrawn from his
pocket.

"It is my duty to warn you, Mr. Orden," he said, "that the contents
of this little tube of gas, which will reach you with a touch of my
fingers, may possibly be fatal and will certainly incapacitate you for
life."

"Why warn me?" Julian scoffed. "You know very well that I haven't the
strength of a cat, or I should wring your neck."

"We feel ourselves," Bright continued unctuously, "justified in using
this tube, because its first results will be to throw you into a
delirium, in the course of which we trust that you will divulge the
hiding place of the stolen packet. We use this means in the interests of
the country, and such risk as there may be lies on your own head."

"You're a canting hypocrite!" Julian declared. "Try your delirium. That
packet happens to be in the one place where neither you nor one of your
tribe could get at it."

"It is a serious moment, this, Mr. Orden," Fenn reminded him. "You are
in the prime of life, and there is a scandal connected with your
present position which your permanent disappearance would certainly not
dissipate. Remember--"

He stopped short. A whistle in the corner of the room was blowing.
Bright moved towards it, but at that moment there was the sound of
flying footsteps on the wooden stairs outside, and the door was flung
open. Catherine, breathless with haste, paused for a moment on the
threshold, then came forward with a little cry.

"Julian!" she exclaimed.

He gazed at her, speechless, but with a sudden light in his eyes. She
came across the room and dropped on her knees by his couch. The two men
fell back. Fenn slipped back between her and the door. They both removed
their masks, but they held them ready.

"Oh, how dared they!" she went on. "The beasts! Tell me, are you ill?"

"Weak as a kitten," he faltered. "They've poisoned me with their beas