tried to rise and fell
back again helpless.

"My God!" he cried. "Leave me alone!"

"When you have told me the truth," Quest answered, swiftly, "and you will
tell me all I want to know in a few moments.... Your eyelids are getting a
little heavy, Craig. Don't resist. Something which is like sleep is coming
over you. You see my will has yours by the throat."

Craig seemed suddenly to collapse altogether. He fell over on one side.
Every atom of colour had faded from his cheeks. Quest leaned over him with
a frown. The man was in a stupor without a doubt, but it was a physical
state of unconsciousness into which he had subsided. He felt his pulse,
unbuttoned his coat, and listened for a moment to the beating of his
heart. Then he crossed the room, fetched the pitcher of water and dashed
some of its contents in Craig's face. In a few moments the man opened his
eyes and regained consciousness. His appearance, however, was still
ghastly.

"Where am I?" he murmured.

"You are here in my room, at the Servants' Club," Quest replied. "You are
just about to tell me where I shall find Lenora."

Craig shook his head. A very weak smile of triumph flickered for a moment
at the corners of his lips.

"Your torture chamber trick won't work on me!" he exclaimed. "You can
never--"

The whole gamut of emotions seemed already to have spent themselves in the
man's face, but at that moment there was a new element, an element of
terrified curiosity in the expression of his eyes as he stared towards the
door.

"Is this another trick of yours?" he muttered.

Quest, too, turned his head and sprang instantly to his feet. From
underneath the door came a little puff of smoke. There was a queer sense
of heat of which both men were simultaneously conscious. Down in the
street arose a chorus of warning shouts, increasing momentarily in volume.
Quest threw open the door and closed it again at once.

"The place is on fire," he announced briefly. "Pull yourself together,
man. We shall have all we can do to get out of this."

Craig turned to the door but staggered back almost immediately.

"The stairs are going!" he shrieked. "It is the kitchen that is on fire.
We are cut off! We cannot get down!"

Quest was on his hands and knees, fumbling under his truckle bed. He
pulled out a crude form of fire escape, a rough sort of cradle with a rope
attached.

"Know how to use this?" he asked Craig quickly. "Here, catch hold. Put
your arms inside