“When and where does the Inner Circle meet?”
“I don’t know, but——”
“Can you find out?”
“I suppose so. But——”
“I must be there.”
The reporter straightened himself. “That’s impossible,” he declared.
“Nothing is impossible!” There was an accent in Caruth’s voice that Bristow had never heard before. “Send word at once through your channels that I wish to appear before the Circle as a witness for Miss Fitzhugh. Say that I will submit to any and all conditions it cares to impose. Add that I am very rich and will be glad to contribute heavily to the cause in return for this privilege. Let them name their price and I will pay it.”
Bristow weakened, impressed in spite of himself. “By Jove!” he cried. “It might be done, after all. But you understand what it means! There is always grave danger of these meetings being raided by the police. If you were caught at one of them, nothing could save you. It would be death or life in prison——”
“I understand! I’ll take the risk! I’ll take any risk, only get me the chance.”
“All right. I’ll try. But we’ll have to be mighty careful. Demidroff is awfully keen on getting this gold. In fact, rumor says his job depends on it.”