It must not be supposed that when I had alighted from the carriage I had given up all hope of escape.  On the contrary, had it not been for the presence of three burly fellows, who immediately took up their places beside me, I fancy I should have made a dash for liberty.  Under the circumstances, however, to have attempted such a thing would have been the height of folly.  Five to one, that is to say, if I include the coachman in the number, with the gates closed behind me, were too long odds, and however hard I might have fought, I could not possibly have been successful.

“Perhaps you will be kind enough to step into the house,” said Hayle.  “The air is cold out here, and I am afraid lest you might take a chill.”

Before complying with his order I looked round me once more to see if there was any chance of escape.  But so far as I could see there was not one.  I accordingly followed one of my captors into the building, the remainder bringing up the rear.

From what I could see of the house with the help of the light from a solitary candle hanging in a sconce upon the wall, it had once been a handsome building.  Now, however, it had fallen sadly to decay.  The ceiling of the hall had at one time been richly painted, but now only blurred traces of the design remained.  Crossing the hall, my guide opened a door at the further end.  In obedience to a request from Hayle, I entered this room, to find myself standing in a fine apartment, so far as size went, but sadly lacking in comfort where its furniture was concerned.  There was a bed, a table, three rough chairs, and an entirely inadequate square of carpet upon the floor.  I have already said that it was a large room, and when I add that it was lighted only by two candles, which stood upon the table in the centre, some idea will be afforded of its general dreariness.

“Now look here, Mr. Hayle,” I said, “the time has come for us to have a serious talk together.  You know as well as I do that in kidnapping me you are laying yourself open to very serious consequences.  If you think that by so doing you are going to prevent me from eventually running you to earth, you are very much mistaken.  You have obtained a temporary advantage over me, I will admit; but that advantage will not last.  Do not flatter yourself that it will.”

“I am not so sure upon that point,” said Hayle, lighting a cigarette as he spoke.  “If I did not think so I should not have gone to all this trouble and expense.  But why make such a fuss about it?  You must surely understand, Mr. Fairfax, that your profession necessarily entails risks.  This is one of them.  You have been paid to become my enemy.  I had no personal quarrel with you.  You can scarcely blame me, therefore, if I retaliate when I have an opportunity.  I don’t know what you may think of it, but the mere fact of you dining with me to-night is very likely to go hard with you, so far as your clients are concerned.