Despite himself, Frank shivered.
“How do you know this?”
“How do I know anything? Do not ask me. Have I ever deceived you?”
“Never.”
“I am not deceiving you now. I know whereof I speak.”
“But, my friend, the one I seek has summoned me there.”
“No! The summons was a forgery. Your friend is not there.”
Wondering still more, Frank snatched the scrap of paper from his pocket, and scanned it again, standing there in the glare of lights, which made the place as bright as day.
“It is his writing!” he exclaimed.
“A forgery, I tell you!” persisted Mr. Noname. “A clever one, perhaps; but your friend did not write it. Your deadliest enemy is in there. He is watching the assassin he has hired to do the job. The assassin has laid his plans well, and expects to escape after he has struck you down.”