The question was addressed to Paget by the leader. Now was no time to hesitate.
“Seven,” said Paget, taking his place in line.
The leader walked to the door. There he turned and faced the solemn line.
“Keep your places,” he said. “An impostor is present — either here or in the outer room. Let us learn the number that he gives.”
The leader tapped seven times upon the door. There were seven taps in return. A terrible realization came over Rodney Paget.
The real Number Seven was outside the room! The impostor was the man who had already entered as Number Seven!
WHEN the leader had called for numbers, the false member of the group had declared himself as five.
By not protesting, Paget had been forced to declared himself as Seven. Now suspicion would be directed upon him!
He clenched his hands beneath the folds of the robe and felt the scarab ring. It reassured him. At least he had the mystic token that had served him before.
The man outside had been admitted. His responses met with the approval of the leader. Now the master of the group returned and singled out Paget, at the end of the line.