“What’s the meaning of this?” he muttered, frowning. “Has it leaked out that I am in Madison?”
He lingered in the office and read the letter, while Chick approached and joined him, noting his ominous expression. For the letter read as follows:
“Mr. Nicholas Carter: You may fool others with a false name, but not the writer. He is not so easily blinded. Your identity is known, also your mission, but you are barking up the wrong tree and are booked for failure. You will make the mistake of your life, a fatal mistake, if you remain here and persist in the work you have undertaken. It will cost you what man holds most dear—your life.
“I am very well aware, Carter, that you are not easily influenced by threats, and ordinarily ignore them. I want to impress it upon you, therefore, that I am not an ordinary person, and that I invariably do what I threaten.
“You will doubt my ability to do so. Your abnormal bump of conceit will cause you to think you can protect yourself and avert your impending fate. Disabuse yourself of that idea. You cannot possibly escape me.
“On the other hand, Carter, I do not wish to wipe you off the map unless you force me to do so. Don’t make it imperative. Don’t fly into the face of fate. Your safety lies in returning to New York and minding your own business. Madison is too small for both of us.
“Lest you underestimate your danger and disregard this warning, however, and that I may be spared needless bloodshed, if possible, I will try to convince you that I am right, that I am vastly your superior, and that I hold your life in my hand. You are said to be a past master of the art of detecting and preventing crime.
“On Thursday evening next an elaborate reception and ball are to be held by the National Guards. Mrs. Mortimer Thurlow will be among the guests. She is very wealthy. She owns a superb rope of pearls. It is worth eighty thousand dollars. She will wear it that evening.
“I am going to steal it.
“I invite you to prevent me.