Lasar shoved his companion into the room and closed the door.
"Sit down, both of you! So you thought to hoodwink me—to get the secret of the treasure and then put me out of the way, eh? That was your game, was it? Well, it's all off now. I'll have nothing further to do with you."
"Why—why, Mr. Marquand, it's all a mistake!" began one of the pair.
"Perhaps you'll deny having plotted against me on a train on your way to Bluewater."
"I deny ever having tried to put up a game on—"
"Master Tad, did you ever see these men before?"
They turned on the lad quickly. Neither man had previously observed him.
"Yes, sir."
"Where?"
"On the train, as you mentioned just now."