"And very much in evidence," Nick cut in dryly. "Listen. I’ll tell you about it."
"Good heavens! it seems utterly incredible," Mantell[Pg 19] said more calmly, after Nick had described the encounter of the previous night, but not what had followed it. "That scoundrel escaped drowning, then, and now is out to persecute me again and——”
"That is not his chief motive," said Nick. "Take it from me, Mantell, he is out after money, I know he was on the rocks financially a month ago, when he pulled off the job that cost Connie Taggart his life, and so nearly sent him to the bottom of the East River."
"You suspect, then——”
"That he still is down and out, and that he has taken this method to force you into paying a big ransom for your wife’s safe return. Note that I say safe return," Nick added. "Under no other condition could he reasonably hope to coerce you. That is why I assert, Mantell, that your wife is in no immediate personal peril."
"Do you really think so?"
"I feel absolutely sure of it," said Nick. "Many facts confirm my opinion of this case. Goulard is a cur who finds delight in threatening those upon whom he has designs. That appeared in the previous case, in the nerve and audacity with which he held me up, and in what has occurred here during the past month. Aside from getting back at me, however, whom he really would like to kill, Goulard is out only for money. You can bank safely on that, Mantell, and that your wife will not be harmed as long as the rascal sees any prospect of bleeding you out of a large sum."
"I hope you are right," Mantell declared, with a look of relief. "I will pay——”
"Nothing!" Nick cut in quickly. "You will leave this matter entirely to me. I’m going to get that rascal and rescue your wife, Mantell, within forty-eight hours."
"Do you really mean it?" Mantell’s face lighted wondrously.