“You can say what you please here without the slightest fear of being overheard, miss,” Craig remarked.

Lenora nodded, and breathed a prayer to herself.  She was nearer the door than Craig by about half-a-dozen paces.  Her hand groped in the little bag she was carrying and gripped something hard.  She clenched her teeth for a moment.  Then the automatic pistol flashed out through the gloom.

“Craig,” she threatened, “if you move I shall shoot you.”

It seemed as though the man were a coward.  He began to tremble, his lips twitched, his eyes grew larger and rounder.

“What is it?” he faltered.  “What do you want?”

“Just this,” Lenora said firmly.  “I suspect you to be guilty of the crime for which Sanford Quest is in prison.  I am going to have you questioned.  If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear.  If you are guilty, there will be some one here before long who will extract the truth from you.”

The man’s face was an epitome of terror.  Even his knees shook.  Lenora felt herself grow calmer with every moment.

“I am going outside to send a message,” she told him.  “I shall return presently.”

“Don’t go,” he begged suddenly.  “Don’t leave me!”

She turned around.

“Why not?”

He drew a step nearer.  Once more the few inches of blue steel flashed out between them.

“None of your games,” she warned him.  “I am in earnest, and I am not afraid to shoot.”

“I won’t come any nearer,” he promised, “but listen!  I am innocent—­I have done nothing wrong.  If you keep me here, you will do more harm than you can dream of.”

“It is for other people to decide about your innocence,” Lenora said calmly.  “I have nothing to do with that.  If you are wise, you will stop here quietly.”

“Have you said anything to Mr. Ashleigh, miss?” the man asked piteously.

“Not a word.”

An expression of relief shone for a moment upon his face.  Lenora pointed to a stool.

“Sit down there and wait quietly,” she ordered.

He obeyed without a word.  She left the place, locked the door securely, and made her way round to the other side of the garage—­the side hidden from the house.  Here, at the far corner, she drew a little pocket wireless from her bag and set it on the window-sill.  Very slowly she sent her message,—­

    “I have Craig here in the Professor’s garage, locked up.  If our
    plan has succeeded, come at once.  I am waiting here for you.”

There was no reply.  She sent the message again and again.  Suddenly, during a pause, there was a little flash upon the plate.  A message was coming to her.  She transcribed it with beating heart: 

    “O.K.  Coming.”

The guard swung open the wicket in front of Quest’s cell.

“Young woman to see you, Quest,” he announced.  “Ten minutes, and no loud talking, please.”