Craig was making
desperate efforts to escape. Directly he saw the little party issue from
the library, however, the strength seemed to pass from his limbs. He
remained in the clutches of his captor, limp and helpless.
"I caught the girl trying to make her way into the house," the latter
explained. "She called out, and this man came running down-stairs, right
into my arms."
"It is quite all right," the Professor said, in a dignified tone. "You may
release them both. Craig was on his way to keep an appointment here at ten
o'clock. Quest, will you and the Inspector bring him in? Let us resume our
places at the table."
The little procession made its way down the hall. The girl was still
clinging to her uncle.
"What are they going to do to you, these people?" she sobbed. "They shan't
hurt you! They shan't!"
Lenora passed her arm around the girl.
"Of course not, dear," she said soothingly. "Your uncle has come of his
own free will to answer a few questions, only I think it would be better
if you would let me--"
Lenora never finished her sentence. They had reached the entrance now to
the library. The Professor was standing in the doorway with extended hand,
motioning them to take their places at the table. Then, with no form of
warning, the room seemed suddenly filled with a blaze of blue light. It
came at first in a thin flash from the window to the table, became
immediately multiplied a thousand times, and played round the table in
sparks which suddenly expanded to sheets of leaping, curling flame.
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