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The silent Conrad produced a length of fine cord. The next minute Number 14's

hands, horribly dexterous, were winding the cord round his limbs, while Conrad

held him down.

What the devil----?" began Tommy.

But the slow, speechless grin of the silent Conrad froze the words on his lips.

Number 14 proceeded deftly with his task. In another minute Tommy was a mere

helpless bundle. Then at last Conrad spoke:

Thought you'd bluffed us, did you? With what you knew, and what you didn't

know. Bargained with us! And all the time it was bluff! Bluff! You know less than

a kitten. But your number's up now all right, you b----swine."

Tommy lay silent. There was nothing to say. He had failed. Somehow or other the

omnipotent Mr. Brown had seen through his pretensions. Suddenly a thought

occurred to him.

A very good speech, Conrad," he said approvingly. "But wherefore the bonds and

fetters? Why not let this kind gentleman here cut my throat without delay?"

Garn," said Number 14 unexpectedly. "Think we're as green as to do you in here,

and have the police nosing round? Not 'alf! We've ordered the carriage for your

lordship to-morrow mornin', but in the meantime we're not taking any chances,

see!"

"Nothing," said Tommy, "could be plainer than your words--unless it was your

face."

"Stow it," said Number 14.

With pleasure," replied Tommy. "You're making a sad mistake--but yours will be

the loss."

"You don't kid us that way again," said Number 14. "Talking as though you were

still at the blooming Ritz, aren't you?"

Tommy made no reply. He was engaged in wondering how Mr. Brown had

discovered his identity. He decided that Tuppence, in the throes of anxiety, had

gone to the police, and that his disappearance having been made public the gang

153

The Secret Adversary