“Sit down in that chair in the middle of the room,” commanded the voice. “You will be shot if you try any of your games.”
To say that Nick was disgusted with himself but feebly expresses his feelings. At the critical moment he had permitted a woman to outwit him!
“I am not in the killing business myself,” said the woman, “but there will soon be a person here who has no scruples in getting rid of spies and murderers.”
Nick took the chair without a word. His hope was now in Chick.
“You’re after Hughart, are you?” she asked.
“You know what we want,” replied Nick. “Why not make it an even thing for both sides?”
“Oh, you want to compromise, do you?” sneered the woman. “That bum waiter you sneaked in here got his a moment ago. And the rest of your crowd has just been taken away by the police.”
The detective did not believe this. There was still too much excitement at the front of the building.
Presently the noise grew louder, seeming to come from the room in which Chick had left him. Then the lights were shut off, and again he was in darkness.