The detective shuddered as Bernice touched him, but he remained in conversation with her for a long time.
“There comes the chief,” she said presently, pointing to a brisk-appearing man just stepping on the stage. He was accompanied by a young fellow Nick had no difficulty in recognizing as the alleged reporter who had led him to the syndicate headquarters. There was no doubt that the man referred to as the chief was the same one who had planned his death the previous evening.
In looking over the members of the club, Nick saw that it was indeed composed mostly of members of the syndicate. The few outsiders who were there were the lambs of the organization. They had either diamonds, money, or social position to thank for their admission. Nick now saw clearly what the club really was, an annex to the syndicate.
While the others were at their parts, Nick went back to his dressing room.
“What are you going to do when it comes time for you to go on?” asked Patsy. “You don’t know a word of the part.”
“If Chick acts promptly,” said Nick, “the big scene will come off before I am called upon to speak my lines.”
“It will be something of a surprise party,” said Patsy. “Still, there are not so many members of the syndicate here that we know about. You have Mantelle, Stella, the two waiters, the guard at the old headquarters, and the man who tried to burglarize your house already under arrest. How many more are there here?”
“The chief,” replied Nick, “the alleged reporter, Bernice, Anton, and the members of that glee club. Oh, we’ll pick them all up if everything goes well.”
“When does it come off?”
“Very shortly, now.”