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But the German's face had lightened a little.
"
"
Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, then waved to Conrad.
Take him away. Upstairs--you know."
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?"
That may perhaps be arranged."
It must be."
We will see about it. Only one person can decide that."
Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer.
Mr. Brown----"
Shall I see him?"
Perhaps."
Come," said Conrad harshly.
Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned to him to mount
the stairs. He himself followed close behind. On the floor above Conrad opened a
door and Tommy passed into a small room. Conrad lit a hissing gas burner and
went out. Tommy heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room than the one
downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airless about the atmosphere of
it. Then he realized that there was no window. He walked round it. The walls were
filthily dirty, as everywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the wall
representing scenes from Faust. Marguerite with her box of jewels, the church
scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust and Mephistopheles. The latter brought
Tommy's mind back to Mr. Brown again. In this sealed and closed chamber, with
its close-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and the sinister power
of the arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout as he would, no one could ever hear
him. The place was a living tomb....
With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to the bed and gave
himself up to reflection. His head ached badly; also, he was hungry. The silence
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