drawn his revolver.) "Otherwise, your son's yacht, the _Savannah_,
will be posted missing. Hear me out, every one of you, lest great
misfortune befall those dear to you. Mr. Murray, your sister and
niece will disappear from the Villa Marina, Monte Carlo, within
four hours of any movement made by you without my express
permission. Mr. Oppner, you have a daughter. Believe me, she and
you are quite safe--at present. Baron Hague, Sir Leopold Jesson,
and Mr. Rohscheimer, my agents have orders, which only I can recall
to bring you to Carey Street. I threaten no more than I can carry
out. Give the alarm if it please you ... but I have warned."

During this most extraordinary speech shadowy shapes seemed to be
flitting about the room. The nature of the threats uttered had, for
the time, quite unmanned the six gentlemen, which is no matter for
surprise. Then, at a muttered command in what Mr. Murray informed
our representative to have been Arabic, four lamps--or, rather,
balls of fire--appeared at the four corners of the apartment. This
bizarre scene, suggestive of nothing so much as an Eastern romance,
was due to the presence of several Arabs in heavy robes, who had in
some way entered in the darkness, and who now stood around the
walls, four of their number holding in their brown hands these
peculiar globular lights, which were of a kind quite new to those
present. (An article by Mr. Pearce Baldry, of Messrs. Armiston,
Baldry & Co., dealing with the possible construction of these
lamps, appears on page 6.)

Immediately inside the open window stood a tall man in a closely
buttoned frock-coat. He carried no arms, but wore a black silk
half-mask. Mr. Rohscheimer at this juncture rendered the episode
even more dramatic by exclaiming:

"Good heavens! It's Severac Bablon!"

"It is, indeed, Mr. Rohscheimer," said that menace to civilised
society; "so that no doubt you will respect my orders. Mr.
Macready, I do not see your revolver upon the table. I have warned
you twice."

Mr. Macready, who is not easily intimidated, evidently concluding
that no good could come of resistance at that time, threw the
revolver on to the table and folded his arms.

"I give you my word," concluded Severac Bablon, "that no bodily
harm shall come to any one of you s