"Excellency! You are hurting my arm."

"Answer me."

A long silence, then a murmur of pain.

"You shall----"

It was with an effort that Rowland controlled his will to descend ... but he clutched at the tiles and did not move.

"Ach, so----" came the triumphant voice. "It was he----"

"But he has escaped--gone yesterday. I swear it!"

"So--and the black bag? It was here? Answer me!"

"Yes, it was here."

"And Fräulein Korasov----?"