"Yes," he said, "we meet face to face." Then with a sudden twist he made himself free.
For a second I looked hastily around the cave. A torch was lying on the floor which lit up our strange meeting-place, and near it I saw Eli struggling with the serving-man.
He looked at me scornfully, while I, panting and partially exhausted, tried to harden my sinews for a second attack. I determined to be careful, however. I knew Nick Tresidder of old; I knew he would fight with all the cunning of a serpent, and that he had as many tricks as a monkey, so that, while he would be no match for me had my strength been normal, he would now possibly be my master in my comparative weakness.
He took no notice of Eli, who struggled with the serving-man, but kept his eyes on me.
"You fool, Jasper Pennington," he said. "I had come here to set you free; now you will never leave this place alive."
"Why?" I panted, for want of better words.
"Because you know now who imprisoned you, and if you escaped you would tell it to the world. I dare not let the world know this, so you and Eli will have to die."
I felt sure there was some trick in this, although I could not tell what it was.
"But if I had been set free the world would have known," I replied.