"He will play his part. Don't worry, Ivan. You will get your next shipment. It may be the last, unless—"
"Unless?"
"Unless we find others that are valuable. Savette spoke of further plans." There was a slight stir in the room and Cliff drew back along the passage. He was thinking as he went. He had heard of Matt Hartley. The man was an inventive genius in the field of aviation. He had made tests to develop new forms of aerial torpedoes, and had gained considerable publicity through his experiments.
Despite the delay that he had experienced in getting here, Cliff had arrived in time to hear a vital portion of the conversation. He knew that something was to be done concerning Matt Hartley. It would happen two nights from now.
The door of the room was opening, but Cliff had reached a point of safety. He was hiding in a short, black passage, between the room where he had listened and the stairway. He was confronted now with a problem that he had not anticipated.
What if the two men returned to the living room and found him missing? It would require some time for him to get back through the turrets. Then he would have to descend the main staircase into the face of danger.
Cliff was pondering futilely. The problem seemed insurmountable. But while he was disturbed by his dilemma, something occurred that changed the situation entirely.
Instead of returning along the corridor to the distant central door, Tremont and Orlinov were approaching the passage where Cliff was in hiding! Quickly, Cliff drew his revolver. If they came down this short passage there would be only one course — to fight it out and flee for safety. Cliff tingled with excitement as the footsteps came closer.
Then the men's forms passed by the end of the passage, and the menace was ended. A few moments later, Cliff heard them going up the stairs that led to the second floor of the wing.
They had taken the very avenue which he must follow to elude them! Cliff was now between two dangers. Petri at the door to the center of the house; Orlinov and Tremont on the second floor of the wing.