II
"We appear," remarked Hugh quietly, a few minutes later, "to be in for a cheery night."
For a moment the German had left the room, and the three motionless, bound figures, sitting grotesquely in their chairs, were alone.
"How did they get you, Toby?"
"Half a dozen of 'em suddenly appeared," answered Sinclair shortly, "knocked me on the head, and the next thing I knew I was here in this damned chair."
"Is that when you got your face?" asked Hugh.
"No," said Toby, and his voice was grim. "We share in the matter of faces, old man."
"Lakington again, was it?" said Hugh softly. "Dear Heavens! if I could get one hand on that…" He broke off and laughed. "What about you, Algy?"
"I went blundering in over the way, old bean," returned that worthy, "and some dam' fellow knocked my eye-glass off. So, as I couldn't see to kill him, I had to join the picnic here."
Hugh laughed, and then suddenly grew serious.
"By the way, you didn't see a man chewing gum on the horizon, did you, when I made my entrance? Dogrobber suit, and face like a motor-mascot."
"Thank God, I was spared that!" remarked Algy.
"Good!" returned Hugh. "He's probably away with it by now, and he's no fool. For I'm thinking it's only Peter and him between us and—" He left his remark unfinished, and for a while there was
