Besides, if you
must know it, I have a particular desire to capture the scoundrel
myself. I will leave you and Nella here, since Nella insists on
seeing everything, and I will arrange things so that once he has
entered the cellar Jules will not get out of it again - at any rate
through the grating. You had better place yourselves on the other
side of the glass door, in the big cellar; you will be in a position to
observe from there, I will skip off at once. All you have to do is to
take note of what the fellow does. If he has any accomplices
within the hotel we shall probably be able by that means to
discover who the accomplice is.'
Lighting a match and shading it with his hands, Racksole showed
them both out of the little cellar. 'Now if you lock this glass door
on the outside he can't escape this way: the panes of glass are too
small, and the woodwork too stout. So, if he comes into the trap,
you two will have the pleasure of actually seeing him frantically
writhe therein, without any personal danger; but perhaps you'd
better not show yourselves.'
In another moment Felix Babylon and Nella were left to
themselves in the darkness of the cellar, listening to the receding
footfalls of Theodore Racksole. But the sound of these footfalls
had not died away before another sound greeted their ears - the
grating of the small cellar was being removed.
'I hope your father will be in time,' whispered Felix
'Hush!' the girl warned him, and they stooped side by side in tense
silence.
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