"Do not move or speak," he said, "but try and pull yourself together sufficiently to sign this paper." "What is the document?" "It is something without which I can take no sort of action. My instructions are to do nothing until you have signed it. You need not be afraid; it will not hurt you. Come, sir, there is no time to be wasted. If these rascals are to be got out of England our scheme must be carried out to-night." "To do that I will sign anything. I trust your honor for its contents. Give me pen and ink." His daughter supported him in her arms, while Carne dipped a pen in the bottle of ink he had brought with him and placed it in the tremulous fingers. Then, the paper being supported on a book, the old man laboriously traced his signature at the place indicated. When he had done so he fell back upon the pillow completely exhausted. Carne blotted it carefully, then folded the paper up, placed it in his pocket and announced himself ready for the work. The clock upon the mantlepiece showed him that it was a quarter to eleven, so that if he intended to act that night he knew he must do so quickly. Bidding the invalid rest happy in the knowledge that his safety was assured, he beckoned the daughter to him. "Go downstairs," he said in a whisper, "and make sure that the men are still in the dining room." She did as he ordered her, and in a few moments returned with the information that they had finished their supper and had announced their intention of going to bed. "In that case we must hurry," said Carne. "Where are my men concealed?" "In the room at the end of that passage," was the girl’s reply. "I will go to them. In the meantime you must return to the study downstairs, where we will join you in five minutes’ time. Just before we enter the room in which they are sitting, one of my men will ring the front-door bell. You must endeavor to make the fellows inside believe that you are trying to prevent us gaining admittance. We shall arrest you, and then deal with them. Do you understand?" "Perfectly." She slipped away, and Carne hastened to the room at the end of the passage. He scratched with his finger-nail upon the door, and a second later it was opened by a sergeant of police. On stepping inside he found two constables and an inspector awaiting him. "Is all prepared, Belton?" he inquired. "Quite prepared, sir." "Then come along, and step as softly as you can." As he spoke he took from his pocket a couple of papers, and led the way along the corridor and down the stairs. With infinite care they made their way along the hall until they reached the dining-room door, where Mrs. Jeffreys joined them. Then the street bell rang loudly, and the man who had opened the front door a couple of inches shut it with a bang. Without further hesitation Carne called upon the woman to stand aside, while Belton threw open the dining-room door. "I tell you, sir, you are mistaken," cried the terrified woman.