t asked. "How long----"

"Sign that paper on the table there, and you'll be out of this within
twenty-four hours," replied Joseph. "And--listen, you!--you'll have good
food--and wine--wine!--within ten minutes. Come on, now!"

Further silence was followed by another moan, and at the sound of that,
Neale, whose teeth had been clenched firmly for the last minute or two,
slipped his hand round to the pocket in which the revolver lay.

"Don't be a damned fool!" said Joseph. "Sign and have done with it!
There's the pen--sign! You could have signed any time the last week and
been free. Get it done--damn you, I tell you, get it done! It's your
last chance. I'm off tonight. If I leave you here, it's in your grave.
Nobody'll ever come near this place for weeks--you'll be dead--starved
to death, mind!--long before that. Do you hear me? Come on, now!--sign!"

Neale half drew the revolver from his pocket. But, as he was about to
step from behind the screen, a sudden step sounded on the gravel outside
the outer door, and he shrank back, watching. The door opened--was
thrown back with some violence--and at the same instant Joseph darted
from the inner room, livid with anger, to confront Gabriel Chestermarke.

That the younger man had not expected to encounter the elder was
instantly evident to Neale. Joseph drew back, step by step, watching his
uncle, until his back was against the door through which he had just
rushed. His hand went out behind him and pulled the door to, heavily.
And as it closed he spoke--and Neale knew that there was fear in his
voice.

"What--what--is it?" he got out. "When did you come in here? Why----"
Gabriel Chestermarke had come to a halt in the middle of the floor, and
he was standing very still. His face was paler than ever, and his eyes
burned in their deep-set sockets like live coals. And suddenly he lifted
a forefinger and pointed it straight at his nephew.

"Thief!" he said, with a quietness which was startlingly impressive to
the excited spectator. "Thief! Thief and liar--and murderer, for aught I
know! But you are found out. Scoundrel!--you stole those securities! You
stole those jewels! Don't trifle--don't attempt to dispute! I know! You
got the jewels last Saturday night--you took those securities at the
same time. You may have murdered that man Hollis for anything I know to
the contrary--probably you did. But--no fencing with me! Now speak!
Where are the jewels? Where are those securities? A