in corners believed
to be worse, and he felt confident of pulling out of the scrape with a
whole skin, and with most of the gang in custody.

He had surveyed his surroundings with more than cursory interest,
therefore, while Kilgore and his confederates were binding his arms to
the rounds of the chair back, and his ankles to the legs of the same.

The rough foundation walls of the house, the massive stone wall built
across the cellar to mask the secret chamber, the elaborate electric
furnace, the huge hydraulic press, the workbench and tools, the powerful
arc light pendent from the ceiling--half an eye would have convinced
Nick that he occupied the workroom of that master craftsman whose
chemical knowledge and inventive genius had given birth to a most
marvelous production, long, earnestly, yet vainly, sought by others--

The production of an artificial diamond!

Not until Nick heard the stone door forcibly closed, and its iron bolts
shot violently into their sockets, did he pay serious attention to
Cervera, the venomous Spanish vixen left to guard him.

Then, as she swung round toward him, he took a sharper look at her
darkly magnificent face, and was thrilled despite him by the
extraordinary changes it had undergone.

It had lost its beauty. Its olive flush had given place to a chalky
whiteness. The radiance of her eyes had become a merciless glitter, like
the glint cast from the eyes of a serpent. The reflection of a consuming
passion for vengeance had transfigured her countenance, till it had
become like the face of a fiend.

Though Nick saw at a glance that his situation had taken on an
unexpected and desperate phase, he suppressed any betrayal of it. He met
the woman eye to eye, while she briefly paused and faced him, with a
cruel smile curling her gray lips.

"So I have you now, Nick Carter," she cried, with mocking significance.

"Well, yes, in a way," admitted Nick, coolly.

"I have you in my power," hissed Cervera, with a vicious display of
satisfaction.

"Ah! that's different," said Nick.

"How different?"

"That you have me in your power remains to be demonstrated."

"Are we not alone here, you fool?"

"Yes, very much alone."

"And you helpless?"

"Apparently."

"If I wish, Nick Carter, I can kill you."

"Then pray don't wish it," said Nick. "I am still too young to be
heartlessly slain, even by so beautiful and accomplished a woman."

"_Caramba!_ you mock me!" cried Cervera, dartin