M. Meunier again nodded. “It will be a question of twenty years for you if you do not,” he threw in.
The Chief Inspector went on to amplify his instructions.
“When Mr. Beale comes, show him in as I said. This room will be empty. I want him to talk before witnesses. Say that both messieurs—Mr. Beale need not know anything about this lady till afterwards—are tied up and are being guarded by the other men. Ask him for payment before you let him have the papers. Be sure and tell him explicitly that these are the papers taken by force from M. Meunier. You are a lawyer's clerk and understand what is wanted. We wish Mr. Beale to incriminate himself hopelessly before witnesses. We shall be listening with the door ajar. I shall open it wider when you are to hand the papers to the American. You understand?”
The frightened man said that he did and would do his best.
“It may make all the difference in your life how good your best is,” M. Meunier warned him grimly.
Christine took an impulsive step forward.
“Oh, Mr. Pointer, what have you found out? Will it free John? Will it free him?”
“As to freeing him, that depends on himself, as you know, Miss West. If a man won't speak, won't give an alibi——”
“Ah, but he will now,” put in M. Meunier; “the brave Carter! He can speak now. He signalled to me by means of the half-drawn curtain when he was arrested that he would say nothing till I gave the word. It was part of our contract, and vitally necessary, but the time for silence will have passed once these papers are in safe keeping, as they will be before morning. See, here is ‘Yes’ ”—he handed her a slip of paper from his pocket-book—“that means just that to our friend—‘Yes, you can speak. Yes, a great, an immense fortune is yours. Yes, all is well, and if we get M. Beale——’ ”
“Hush!”