“I must congratulate you, however. You were far more wary. You avoided all my traps — save one.
“A few weeks ago, you might have succeeded in your mission. But recently I decided that my snares had a failing. I had no way of observing any victim who might enter this well-planned lair.
“So I placed a new trap — one that could see and hear as well as act—”
He stopped suddenly. He observed that Harry Vincent did not understand the full significance of the statements.
Palermo realized that the victim had no idea what had happened to him. The thought brought a chuckle from the physician.
“We can return to that matter later,” he resumed, indulgently. “For the present, let us consider your agent, Burke.
“When you left him in charge of me last night, he was completely within my power. I might mention — if you have not already guessed the fact — that Doctor Brockbank and Doctor Palermo are one and the same person. When I assume the role of Brockbank, I am quite as careful as at present.
“Here”—he waved his hand—”I have many curios, and most of them spell destruction for the man who makes a mistake in handling them.
“Doctor Brockbank’s little sanctum is unpretentious, but effective. Its carpet simply covers a thin wire screen that becomes charged with electricity by the simple procedure of pressing a lever underneath the desk. The spot by the desk is not wired.
“So, while I was at the desk, Burke became my victim. He was stunned by the shock that he received. I took him away with me, through a hidden door at the back of the closet.”