“What is it, Quest?” he demanded.
Quest stretched out his hand and picked up from the top of the cigars a small black box! He laid it on the table.
“Unless I am very much mistaken,” he said, “it is another communication from our mysterious friend.”
“Impossible!” the Professor exclaimed hoarsely.
“How can he have been here?” Lenora cried.
Quest removed the lid from the box and drew out a circular card. Around the outside edge was a very clever pen and ink sketch of a lifebuoy, and inside the margin were several sentences of clear handwriting. In the middle was the signature—the clenched hands! Quest read the message aloud—
“In the great scheme of things, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe divided an inheritance amongst His children. To one He gave power, to another strength, to another beauty, but to His favourites He gave cunning.”
They all looked at one another.
“What does it mean?” Lenora gasped.
“A lifebuoy!” the Professor murmured.