"The house that backs up against the one in A Street is a mansion. It is a very fine residence, and I have made it an elegant one. Among other things, I have installed a complete wiring of electricity. I may make some use of that before morning. I don't know."
"But I say, Carter?"
"Well?"
"If your prisoner is not here-at the house in A Street-why are you going there now?"
"Because one of my assistants is there, awaiting me, and I want to hear his report. Also because he was followed there, and those who followed him doubtless believe that their captured friend is a prisoner inside. Because the house may have been approached already, by some of Mustushimi's spies. Because it is necessary that I should go there before I attempt to interview the captured spy-and, finally, because it is there, in one of those houses, where I expect to bring all this affair to a climax, and I wish to be assured, by personal examination, that everything is in readiness."
They were well down the avenue now, toward the Capitol, and when they arrived at the Capitol grounds, instead of crossing them, they swung around the corner and walked up B Street.
All the while they were trailed by the men who had followed them from the hotel; and the detective noticed that the "shadows" seemed to take very little pains to conceal the fact that they were on the track.
This pleased him, for it told of overconfidence on the part of Mustushimi, who could not be far off himself, since this affair was of the utmost importance to him.
The capture of his spy had assured him that Nick Carter had come there prepared to meet him on his own grounds, and made him think that Nick was taking the initiative at once, as he really was, although in reality he was forcing Mustushimi to do the same.
It was a battle in the open, this one, and Nick Carter, at least, was enjoying it hugely.