"Two nights ago," the lawyer said. "I announced my plan to effect the capture of a man named Matt Hartley. I told that plan to one person only — a man named Ivan Orlinov, at Glendale in the Catskills.
"With Orlinov is a man who calls himself Cliff Marsland. Today, Orlinov discovered a mysterious object in Marsland's possession — a fountain pen filled with ink that vanished after it was used for writing.
"Orlinov did not know the significance of that fluid. Nevertheless, he called me at my office. I understood. I have heard of the mysterious messages of The Shadow. My contact with the underworld is not a slight one."
Tremont paused and moistened his parched lips. He continued with his careful story, watching The Shadow intently as he spoke.
"I suspected," said Tremont, "that Marsland might have overheard what was said at Glendale. So I made new plans. This afternoon, Matt Hartley took off on a testing flight. In response to my suggestion, he landed, alone, at an obscure field in the Catskills. There he expected to meet me. He encountered certain others, instead.
"Tomorrow, the world will know that Matt Hartley is dead. His plane has been blown to atoms on that landing field. Foolishly — so the world will believe — he carried a loaded torpedo to make a test. It loosened from his plane when he was forced to make his landing."
Encouraged by the shrewdness of his remarks, Tremont grinned derisively. The silence of The Shadow indicated that the man in black was perplexed.
"I have just come from my office," added Tremont. "There I received a long-distance call from Ivan Orlinov. Your agent — the man called Marsland — is in his power. To all intents, Marsland is dead. He will continue dead — forever — unless you listen to my terms."
The Shadow's long, dark cloak moved slightly. It was the first indication of action that the man of mystery had given. Tremont decided that The Shadow was perturbed.
"Why try to thwart our plans?" questioned Tremont. "I am not alone. We have power which you cannot afford to combat. I offer you fair terms. We have preserved the lives of certain men, because we have found it advantageous to do so. Your man — Marsland — is of no use to us. Nor will the others be of use, if we are forced to take the defensive.