which, had it
taken full effect, would have felled him like an ox.

Before he could recover from the full impact of the blow, Berrington was
on the other man. Then the two closed on him as he backed to the wall
and raised his revolver.

"You see that I am too many for you," he said. "Put down those knives."

For two long cutting knives were gleaming in the light of the electrics.
Nothing daunted, the pair made a rush at Berrington, who fired right and
left. He had no intention that the shots should be fatal, but they both
took effect, one in the shoulder and the other in the arm. When the
smoke cleared away Berrington and Sartoris were alone. A cold stream of
air pouring into the room testified to the fact that the front door had
not been closed by the miscreants in their escape. Berrington cut the
cord around the victim's head and bathed his forehead with water. A
little brandy seemed to effect something in the way of a cure.

"My God, that was awful, awful," Sartoris moaned. "A second more and I
should have died. Would you mind shutting the front door? The cold air
makes me feel like death. That's better. I dare say you wonder what
those fellows were doing here?"

There was just a touch of slyness in the question. Berrington smiled to
himself. He wondered what Sartoris would say if he only knew how much
the listener had overheard.

"I suppose your sins are finding you out," he said. "They generally do.
Personally, I have no curiosity on the subject at all. And I have not
the slightest doubt that your punishment, though pretty severe, was at
the same time well deserved. And now, sir, as fate has given me the whip
hand of you, have you any reason to urge why I should stay in this house
any longer? I take it that you are not quite in a position to place your
electric battery at work from this room as you did from the other. If
you like to----"

Berrington paused, as there was a loud knocking at the door. Sartoris's
pale face grew still paler as he listened. Then he forced a smile to his
pallid lips.

"Don't take any heed," he said eagerly. "Let them go away again under
the impression that nobody is at the house. Let them knock all night if
they like."

But Berrington was already half-way to the door.

CHAPTER XXV

With the letter to Beatrice safe in her pocket, Mary made her way to the
_Royal Palace Hotel_. She had her own idea as to what she was going to
do, and that certainly was not to invite Be