“In about three minutes, Dave,” was the reply.
“How do you open it?”
“By throwing that lever,” said Ardley, pointing to a long iron bar near the wall.
Margate’s face turned hard as flint.
“Throw it, then,” he commanded. “Throw it, Ardley, and wipe this cursed sleuth off the earth. It’s only the fate he has invited. Throw it, Ardley, and drown him like a rat in a sewer.”
Nick Carter, listening grimly, heard Ardley stride toward the iron lever.
CHAPTER VIII.
ON THE BACK TRACK.
Nick Carter had reasoned correctly concerning the night telegram which he had received from Patsy Garvan, whom he had directed to shadow Pierre Toulon when the latter returned on the special train to New York with Lenaire and the several assistants whom he had brought to Langham Manor.
Patsy expected to have a busy night, but the jaunt Toulon led him far exceeded his anticipations.
It was after twelve o’clock when the train arrived in the station, where Toulon was employed for half an hour in removing to a wagon the articles belonging to the caterer.