"So you chose a group of clever crooks. The Five Chameleons, they called themselves. Like the chameleon, that curious lizard of the tropics, they could change their appearances and their manners to adapt themselves to the requirements you desired.
"Now, three of the Five Chameleons are dead. The two who remain are trapped here with you. They are the survivors of a band of rogues."
All understood the menace of that tone save Jake Critz. He was bewildered and stupefied.
He did not recognize this amazing being as the one he had temporarily captured at Delmar's.
"A clever scheme," declared The Shadow. "The fruit of many years work — to be plucked one short week. I know the names of your Five Chameleons. I know the names they called themselves.
"Judge — Deacon — these two are here. Major — Ferret — Butcher — those three lie dead. Four were convicted men. Your influence secretly released them from prison before their terms were served.
"You sent them away — ten years ago — four of the cleverest counterfeiters in the land. They spent a life of ease and luxury, cruising in tropical lands, picked up at intervals by the yacht that you had ready to serve them.
"While they played, they worked. They prepared plates, and printed millions of dollars of the most perfect counterfeit notes that have ever been produced. Those were smuggled into the country — by airplane, I presume. The false money then was sent to Middletown — shipped here in an order of caskets."
"I knew nothing of it!" snarled Bronlon.
The Shadow laughed.