He stepped quickly to the opposite wall and listened at the closed panel.
He now could hear Margate’s voice in the adjoining corridor, followed by others replying. They told him only too plainly what fate the miscreants had in view for him.
“The sooner it’s done, Batty, the better,” Margate was forcibly saying. “We’ll wait only for Nell to show up. I want her here when we put out his light. That’s the only sure way to prevent her from peaching, or any one else. Put them in the same boat with you. Then they’ll never squeal.”
“That’s right, too, Andy,” declared a voice which Nick recognized as that of the burly chauffeur.
“Sure it’s right, Baldwin,” Margate returned.
“But where is she, Andy?” Lombard demanded. “You must have seen her this evening. She hasn’t had charge of the girl since afternoon. When will she show up?”
“By Jove, they have Lottie Trent here, also,” thought Nick. “There would be something doing, all right, if I could break out of this thing.”
Listening while indulging in these thoughts, Nick heard Margate reply:
“I left her in Brady’s just before coming out here, before seeing you and Baldwin start out on this job. She had had no supper, so waited to get it. She may show up at any moment.”
“But Carter has guns, Andy, and will put up a fight. If——”