Just then, two other crooks, who had let themselves in by the skeleton key through the basement jumped into the room through that door covering us.
We started to our feet, but in an instant found ourselves both sprawling on the floor.
In the cabinet, beneath the laboratory table, another crook had been hidden and he tackled us with all the skill of an old football player against whom we had no defence.
Four of them were upon us instantly.
. . . . . . . .
At the same time, Thomas, the faithless valet of Bennett, had been dispatched by the Clutching Hand to commandeer his master's roadster in his absence, and, carrying out the instructions, he had driven up before Elaine's house at the very moment when she was going out for a walk.
Thomas jumped out of the car and touched his hat deferentially.
"A message from Mr. Bennett, ma'am," he explained. "Mr. Kennedy and Mr.
Bennett have sent me to ask you to come over to the laboratory."
Unsuspecting, Elaine stepped into the car and drove off.
Instead, however, of turning and pulling up on the laboratory side of the street, Thomas stopped opposite it. He got out and Elaine, thinking that perhaps it was to save time that he had not turned the car around, followed.