“Bah!” retorted Desmond, “and what of it? Mightn’t they have been planted on her in order to get her arrested to draw the suspicion away from the real criminal, yourself?”
Strangwise laughed a low, mellow laugh.
“You’re devilish hard to convince,” he remarked. “Perhaps you’ll change your mind about it when I tell you that Nur-el-Din was sentenced to death by a general court-martial yesterday afternoon.”
The blow struck Desmond straight between the eyes. The execution of spies followed hard on their conviction, he knew. Was he too late?
“Has... has she... has the sentence already been carried out?” he asked hoarsely.
Strangwise shrugged his shoulders.
“My information didn’t go as far as that!” he replied. “But I expect so. They don’t waste much time over these matters, old man! You see, then,” he continued, “you’ve got the ringleader, and you shall have the other two members of the organization and save your own life into the bargain if you will be reasonable and treat with me.”
Desmond looked straight at him; and Strangwise averted his eyes.
“Let me get this right,” said Desmond slowly. “You let me go free—of course, I take it that my liberty includes the release of Miss Mackwayte as well—and in addition, you hand over to me your two accomplices, Bellward and the Malplaquet woman. That is your offer, isn’t it? Well, what do you want from me in exchange?”
“The Star of Poland!” said Strangwise in a low voice.