The panel swung fully open, and a figure appeared in it. It was the form of a tall man, clad in black silk.
The three crooks stood staring at him silently. So unexpected had been his appearance that it had affected them with a sort of paralysis. Their mouths gaped open and their eyes bulged.
Serenely, the intruder stood looking down upon them; and then, with a courteous wave of his hand, he spoke.
“Pardon my intrusion, gentlemen!” said he. “My little affairs can wait—I will return later!”
He turned, and next moment the panel had swung silently shut behind him.
Monte Jerome was the first of the three to recover.
“Come on—we’ve got to get him!” he cried.
“That was the Chink we saw spieling with the Count,” the “Kid” cried hoarsely. “But, for the love of cripe, how did he get here?”
Monte snarled wolfishly: