, who acts as valet
to poor fools using the place, has agreed--for a price--to unlock the
door of the room in which I shall be"...

"What!" cried Dunbar, "you are going to risk yourself alone in that
place AGAIN?"

"I have paid a very heavy fee," replied the Frenchman with his odd
smile, "and it entitles me to a second visit; I shall pay that second
visit on Tuesday night, and my danger will be no greater than on the
first occasion."

"But Soames may betray you!"

"Fear nothing; I have measured my Soames, not only anthropologically,
but otherwise. I fear only his folly, not his knavery. He will not
betray me. Morbleu! he is too much a frightened man. I do not know what
has taken place; but I could see that, assured of escaping the
police for complicity in the murder, he would turn King's evidence
immediately"...

"And you gave him that assurance?"

"At first I did not reveal myself. I weighed up my man very carefully;
I measured that Soames-pig. I had several stories in readiness, but his
character indicated which I should use. Therefore, suddenly I arrested
him!"

"Arrested him?"

"Pardieu! I arrested him very quietly in a corner of the bar of 'Three
Nuns' public house. My course was justified. He saw that the reign of
his mysterious Mr. King was nearing its close, and that I was his only
hope"...

"But still he refused"...

"His refusal to reveal anything whatever under those circumstances
impressed me more than all. It showed me that in Mr. King I had to deal
with a really wonderful and powerful man; a man who ruled by means
of FEAR; a man of gigantic force. I had taken the pattern of the key
fitting the Yale lock of the door of my room, and I secured a duplicate
immediately. Soames has not access to the keys, you understand. I must
rely upon my diplomacy to secure the same room again--all turns upon
that; and at an hour after midnight, or later if advisable, Soames
has agreed to let me out. Beyond this, I could induce him to do
nothing--nothing whatever. Cochon! Therefore, having got out of the
locked room, I must rely upon my own wits--and the Browning pistol which
I have presented to Soames together with the duplicate key"...

"Why not go armed?" asked Dunbar.

"One's clothes are searched, my dear Inspector, by an expert! I have
given the key, the pistol, and the implements of the house-breaker (a
very neat set which fits easily into the breast-pocket) to Soames, to
conceal in his private room at