ler and Smith took care of the couple, your
assistant and I hastily examined three rooms. They were empty, save for
a small quantity of furniture. The fourth door resisted our efforts, so,
of course, we burst it open. And the first thing that met our eyes was
poor old Jack lying on his back on the bed, and glaring at us in a way
that made me think at first he was mad."

"I should think so," interrupted Talbot. "I would like to see your face
if you were trussed up as I was--not able to speak a word--and a
fiendish row going on in the passage outside."

"You were gagged," questioned Brett, "and your wrists and ankles were
secured to the four corners of the bed, your limbs being distended in
the form of an X?"

Fairholme glanced round admiringly. "Of course," he cried delightedly,
"I knew you would guess it. That is the pleasant way these Turks have of
securing their prisoners."

"It is an awfully uncomfortable one," said Talbot. "My joints are still
stiff at the mere recollection of it. I have lain in that way, Mr.
Brett, for countless hours. Occasionally the brutes would allow me to
change my posture, but the moment anyone came to the door I was strapped
up in an instant and a gag slipped into my mouth. What used to make me
so furious was the knowledge that if only I got the chance of a second I
could have broken that Frenchman's neck and escaped, but he and his wife
always took such precautions that I never had the liberty to do more
than reach with some difficulty the food that they gave me. However, I
must not interrupt."

"I really have not much more to say," went on Fairholme. "You may be
sure it did not take me long to release Talbot, and what do you think
his first words were when he slowly sat up in bed and tried if his legs
would bend?"

"I cannot guess," said Brett.

"He said: 'Have they got the diamonds?'

"I answered 'Yes.'

"'But it was impossible,' he said. 'They could not have mastered all
those policemen.'

"'But they did,' I replied, and then and there, before he would budge an
inch, he made me tell him the whole story. Just as I had ended we heard
a scuffle in the passage. We went out, though Jack was hardly able to
walk at first. It was Smith wrestling with the woman, who was a regular
wild cat, and who would, even then, have done us any mischief in her
power. There was nothing for it but to tie her hands behind her back,
and then fasten her securely in a chair. After this was done we took