From that time but few words were spoken during the ride, though the detectives occasionally passed a remark in their meaningless lingo, merely to keep up appearances.
At eight o'clock they had left the throbbing body of the city behind them, and at half-past eight they were speeding along the deserted suburban road leading to Venner's rather isolated homestead.
Only the yellow glare of an incandescent lamp here and there now relieved the terrestrial gloom, but across the distant heavens intermittent flashes of light, followed by the low, sullen roll of thunder, told of the approaching storm.
Soon the lighted windows of Venner's house came into view through the woodland, and Nick now murmured softly to Chick:
"If I fail to rejoin you in ten minutes, you will know what to do."
"You bet!" whispered Chick. "Trust me to do it, too!"
"Here we are, sirs," cried Dalton, as he pulled up at the gate of the gravel walk. "You can go right in, while I wait to look after my horses."
Chick—as Pandu Singe—pretended to give Nick a brief command, and Nick alone sprang out upon the sidewalk.
"Wait here, driver," said he, curtly. "I will return for Pandu Singe in a few minutes."
Dalton instantly became suspicious.