o long as you attempt no
resistance. What will now be done is done only by way of
precaution. Any sound would be fatal."

At a signal to the Arabs the four lights were hidden, and each of
the six gentlemen were seized in the darkness in such a manner that
resistance was impossible. Each had a hand clapped over his mouth,
whilst he was securely gagged and bound by men who evidently had
the arts of the Thug at their fingers' ends. Mr. Murray informed
our representative that so certain were they of Severac Bablon's
power to perform all that he had threatened that, in his opinion,
no one struggled, with the exception of Mr. Macready, who, however,
was promptly overpowered.

It was then that they learnt how the Arabs and their master had
entered. For each of the distinguished company, commencing with
Baron Hague, was lowered by a rope to a window on the fifth floor
and drawn in by men who waited there.

There is no doubt that access had been gained by means of a short
ladder from this lower window; indeed, Mr. Murray saw such a ladder
in use when, all having descended through the darkness, the last to
leave--an Arab--returned by that means. Such was the dispatch and
perfect efficiency of this audacious man's Eastern gang, that Mr.
Murray and his friends were all removed from the upper apartment to
the lower in less than seven minutes. It will be remembered that
the south wing of the Astoria has lately been faced with dark grey
granite, that it was a moonless night, and that the daring
operation could only have been visible, if visible at all, from the
distant Embankment. No hitch occurred whatever; Severac Bablon's
Arabs exhibited all the agility and quickness of monkeys. It is
illustrative of his brazen methods that he then removed the gags,
and invited his victims to partake of some refreshments, "as they
had a long drive before them."

Needless to say, they were all severely shaken by their perilous
adventure; and this led to an angry outburst from Mr. Macready, who
demanded a full explanation of the outrage.

"Sir," was the reply, "it is not for you to ask. As a final warning
to you and to your friends--for the provisions I have made in your
case are no more complete than those which I have made in the
others--permit me to tell you th