"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half whisper. "I didn't think you
would. Now I'm going to put out the lights for an instant, while you
pull the shades down, and then--then we must have a--a conference."
The switch snapped. The lights died as suddenly as they had been born,
and Mr. Grimm, moving noiselessly, visited each of the four windows in
turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly again.
"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained to him quietly, and she
handed him a sheet of paper. "I want you to read this--read it
carefully--then I shall turn out the lights again. They are dangerous.
After that we may discuss the matter at our leisure."
Mr. Grimm read the paper while Miss Thorne's eyes questioned his
impassive face. At length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and the
switch snapped. She crossed the room and sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside
her.
"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, "that that accounts
perfectly for Monsieur Boissegur's disappearance."
"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. Grimm assented musingly.
"Kidnapped--held prisoner--fifty thousand dollars demanded for his
safety and release.
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