“Give it to me,” commanded Yolanda, holding out her hand.
“It is a verbal message,” I answered. “We were to tell you that the Black Ghost wears a ruby ring.”
Maria Lalena stared at us in blank surprise. The message meant nothing to her. If it meant anything to Yolanda she hid it effectively. She said merely, “oh, yes, a code we had arranged. Thank you very much.”
“That’s all very well,” John answered, “but he does wear a ruby ring.”
“Oh,” Maria Lalena cried in surprise, “how do you know?”
Yolanda glared. “Do you happen to know where the Countess is at present?”
“When we last saw her,” I said, “she was a prisoner at the Black Ghost’s stronghold in the mountains.”
Maria Lalena gave a loud gasp.
“You saw her there?” asked Yolanda, interested at last.
“We were imprisoned in the next room to hers. We escaped, but were unfortunately not able to release her.”