There was a threat in these quiet words that Louden Powers well understood. Although he had not been caught in the raid in Jersey City a few nights before, he did not know how much evidence there was against him in connection with the counterfeiting proceedings. He came downstairs.
“Is Lampton and the other man with you?” asked Nick.
“We are coming,” replied Lampton for himself.
“And the other man?”
“He’s here.”
Nick Carter had appeared to trust to the rascals to bring down the man who had been called Howard Milmarsh. As a matter of fact, he did not depend entirely on them. He had given a private signal to Chick, and that exceedingly efficient assistant was ready to compel obedience by Louden and Lampton if there had been too much hesitation on their part.
“We’ll go into the dining room,” said Carter. “Get some of your servants to come and open the sun blinds. We may as well have light from the outside.”
The two men—Dobbs and Kelly—who had been keeping discreetly in the background while the row lasted, now stepped forward and let the sunshine into the great dining room.
“Now, chairs for everybody!” ordered Nick. “I will sit here, near the door. Is Captain Brown coming?”
“Here I am, Carter,” answered Captain Brown for himself, as he came in with Patsy. “I saw that mob going down the road. I hope they won’t stay at the Old Pike Inn and make a fuss.”