"Let me understand things," said the senator, turning to Nick again. "Do you mean that the chief of police has withdrawn the regular police guard from this part of the street, for to-night?"
"For the first part of the night-yes."
"But why?"
"So that Mustushimi may discover that no police are near him. He will send out his men to find out about that. If there was a policeman in the way, he would doubtless attack him. But, finding none, he will assume that the officer has left his post without leave, and will go ahead with his own plans, leaving a guard to watch for the arrival of the officer."
"And what will he attempt to do, do you think?"
"He means to get inside this house, if he can do it; by force, if it cannot be accomplished in any other way."
"But what for? How will it benefit him to get in here?"
"He wants to recapture his spy, before that spy has a chance to make a full confession to me; but more than that, he wants to capture me."
"I see."
"And now he knows that I am here-more than that, he knows that you are with me, and I have no doubt that he has suddenly discovered that you are about as dangerous to him as I am."