“And what about me?”
“Ah, my dear Monsieur Vulning, do not worry about your precious self. Yours is the easiest part to play. You will, of course, beat a retreat with us. We will put you ashore at St. Remo if you wish. You can then remove your disguise and return here. No one will even suspect you....” Again Doctor Bergius looked at him curiously.
“I believe you are a coward, Vulning. Look here, Castelli will go through your part just to show you. I have here some blank cartridges. See! I charge the revolver. Now, Castelli....”
Castelli stood up by the table. He held the revolver about three feet from his head and fired. Then he dropped to the floor and remained there, grinning up at Hugh.
“Voila,” said the doctor. “That’s all. No risk for you. You lie snug under the table and watch events. Easy, isn’t it? Ah, the whole conception is superb, the work of a man of genius.... Listen!...” The doctor stopped suddenly, grew tense, alert. “What’s that? Who’s out there with Golaz and Gamba?”
Hugh, too, was listening. He heard excited voices and steps coming down the hall. He trembled and as he reached out for support his hand touched an inkwell made out of the fuse of an old German shell. The next instant the door was flung violently open and a man entered.
It was Paul Vulning.
CHAPTER NINE
THE HOLD-UP
1.
“HOLD him! Hold the impostor!” cried Vulning.