"Yes, yes." Penn's teeth were chattering, and the sinking motion made him sick. "What has it to do with a gang?" "It's--it's a--a sign."
"Was Sir Charles murdered by this gang?"
"I don't know--I don't know. Oh!" Penn screamed and clutched again at the side of the car. "You do. This false Mrs. Brown belonged to the gang."
"I can't say. I daren't tell you. If I say anything I shall die."
"You shall die if you don't say what I want you to say," said Dan between his teeth, and again the machine dipped and towered. "I'll tilt you out, I swear, if you don't tell me who murdered Sir Charles."
"I don't know, I tell you," cried Penn desperately, "the perfume has to do with a society of people, who--who--but I daren't speak. I should be killed. I have said too much as it is. And if you reveal what I have said, you will be killed also."
"I don't care. Is Mrs. Jarsell connected with this gang?"
"I don't know Mrs. Jarsell," said Penn sullenly, although his terrified face showed that he was nearly frightened out of his wits. "Do you belong to this----" started Dan, when a sudden action of Penn took him by surprise. In endeavoring to frighten the man he had flown too low, and the aeroplane was only six feet off the ground, preparing to swing skyward again. The secretary, in desperation, flung himself sideways out of the machine, as it curved at the lowest and fell heavily on the herbage of the Heath. Dan could not stop to see if he was safe or hurt, but soared aloft again to a considerable height. Circling widely he came sailing directly over the spot where the secretary had tumbled out in his desperate endeavor to escape. Already the man had picked himself up and was limping off toward the town as quickly as he was able. "Now," said Dan grimly to himself, "he will have me arrested for attempted murder. That's all right," and he chuckled, although not entirely successful in his endeavor to make Penn confess.