"You must think we're blunderers, if you contemplate that!" and he grinned at his companion.

"Now," he added, turning again to me; "for the last time I ask you if you will sign this cheque I have written."

"And for the last time I tell you that you are a pair of blackguards, and that I will do nothing of the sort."

"Not even if we bring the girl here--to you?"

I hesitated, much puzzled by the strangeness of the att.i.tude of the pair. Their self-confidence was amazing.

"Sign it," he urged. "Sign it in your own interests--and in hers."

"Why in hers?"

"You will see, after you have appended your signature."

"When I have seen her I will sign," I replied at last; "but not before. You seem to have regarded me as a pigeon to pluck. But you'll find out I'm a hawk before you've done with me."

"I think not," smiled the cool-mannered Reckitt. "Even if you are a hawk, you're caged. You must admit that!"

"I shall shout murder, and alarm the police," I threatened.

"Shout away, my dear fellow," replied my captor. "No sound can be heard outside this room. Shriek! We shall like to hear you. You won't have opportunity to do so very much longer."

"Why?"

"Because refusal will bring upon you a fate more terrible than you have ever imagined," was the fellow's hard reply. "We are men of our word, remember! It is not wise to trifle with us."

"And I am also a man of my word. You cannot obtain money from me by threats."

"But we offer you a service in return--to bring Sylvia to you."

"Where is her father?" I demanded.

"You'd better ask her," replied Forbes, with a grin. "Sign this, and see her. She is anxious--very anxious to meet you."

"How do you know that?"

"We know more than you think, Mr. Biddulph," was the sharper's reply.

His exterior was certainly that of a gentleman, in his well-cut dinner jacket and a fine diamond stud in his shirt.

I could only think that the collapsible chair in which I sat was worked by a lever from outside the room. There was a spy-hole somewhere, at which they could watch the actions of their victims, and take them unawares as I had been taken.

"And now," asked Reckitt, "have you fully reflected upon the serious consequences of your refusal to sign this cheque?"

"I have," was my unwavering reply. "Do as you will, I refuse to be blackmailed."

"Your refusal will cause disaster to yourself--and to her! You will share the same fate--a horrible one. She tried to warn you, and you refused to heed her. So you will both experience the same horror."

"What horror? I have no fear of you," I said.

"He refuses," Reckitt said, with a harsh laugh, addressing his accomplice. "We will now let him see what is in store for him--how we punish those who remain defiant. Bring in the table."

Forbes disappeared for a moment and then returned, bearing a small round table upon which stood a silver cigar-box and a lighted candle.

The table he placed at my side, close to my elbow. Then Forbes took something from a drawer, and ere I was aware of it he had slipped a leathern collar over my head and strapped it to the back of the chair so that in a few seconds I was unable to move my head from side to side.

"What are you doing, you blackguards?" I cried in fierce anger. "You shall pay for this, I warrant."

But they only laughed in triumph, for, held as I was, I was utterly helpless in their unscrupulous hands and unable to lift a finger in self-defence, my defiance must have struck them as ridiculous.

"Now," said Reckitt, standing near the small table, "you see this!"

and, leaning forward, he touched the cigar-box, the lid of which opened with a spring.

Next second something shot quite close to my face, startling me.

I looked, and instantly became filled with an inexpressible horror, for there, upon the table, lay a small, black, venomous snake. To its tail was attached a fine green silken cord, and this was, in turn, fastened to the candle. The wooden candle-stick was, I saw, screwed down to the table. The cord entered the wax candle about two inches lower than the flame.

I gave a cry of horror, whereat both men laughed heartily.

"Now," said Reckitt, "I promised you an unexpected surprise. There it is! In half-an-hour the flame will reach the cord, and sever it. Then the snake will strike. That half-hour will give you ample time for reflection."

"You fiends!" I cried, struggling desperately to free myself. In doing so I moved my head slightly, when the snake again darted at me like a flash, only falling short about an inch from my cheek.

The reptile fell back, recoiled itself, and with head erect, its cruel, beady eyes watching me intently, sat up ready to strike again.

The blood froze in my veins. I was horrified, held there only one single inch from death.

"We wish you a very good night," laughed Forbes, as both he and his companion walked towards the door. "You will have made a closer acquaintance with the snake ere we cash your cheque in the morning."

"Yes," said Reckitt, turning upon me with a grin. "And Sylvia too will share the same fate as yourself, for daring to warn you against us!"

"No!" I cried; "spare her, spare her!" I implored.

But the men had already pa.s.sed out of the room, locking the door securely after them.

I lay back silent, motionless, listening, not daring to move a muscle because of that hideous reptile closely guarding me.

I suppose ten minutes must have pa.s.sed--ten of the most awful minutes of terror and disgust I have ever experienced in all my life--then a sound broke the dead stillness of the night.

I heard a woman's loud, piercing scream--a scream of sudden horror.

Sylvia's voice! It seemed to emanate from the room beyond!

Again it was repeated. I heard her shriek distinctly--

"Ah! No, spare me! Not that--_not that_!"

Only a wall divided us, yet I was powerless, held there face to face with a terrible and revolting death, unable to save her, unable to raise my hand in self-defence.