On the other hand, Venner might be entirely ignorant of Kilgore's identity, and without any serious suspicions of Cervera, being himself a blind victim of these notorious criminals.
"If the latter is the case," reasoned Nick, "the gang may stand in fear of me, and perhaps are afraid that I shall foil some scheme they have in operation, or are about to undertake. Then they to-night may have aimed only to discover the extent and nature of my suspicions.
"If that is the case, plainly it will become me to be a little foxy. I will see if I can contrive to overhear anything from out yonder."
Bent upon wriggling nearer the closed door revealed by the thread of light near the floor, Nick quietly turned upon his side and cautiously worked his way over the carpet.
He had covered scarce a yard, however, when the sharp, metallic ring of Cervera's voice fell plainly on his ears.
"Look again, one of you," she curtly commanded. "See if that vagabond has come to himself."
"That's your humble servant!" thought Nick.
He quickly rolled back to his former position on the floor, and prepared to play the fox.
In a moment the door was thrown open, admitting a flood of light, and a man strode into the room and dropped to his knee beside the motionless detective.
"I say!" he harshly growled, shaking Nick roughly by the shoulder. "Brace up, you dog! Brace up, d'ye hear?"