“It must be so,” said Chick. “Ellison was in that box. They have lifted him out and he is in that room where the lights are.” “Then we have located our man.” “And we’ll be sure of it, if Lannigan comes with Mrs. Ladew here.” “I presume,” said Nick, “if we are right, that they are busy now in restoring Ellison to consciousness.” “Our trick,” said Chick, “is to wait here and watch for the coming of Lannigan with Mrs. Ladew.” It was half-past ten by this time and, according to their calculations, Lannigan could not reach there before eleven. They settled themselves for the wait, and promptly on the hour of their calculations they saw a coach round the corner. The doors in the fence swung open again, and as the coach turned into the gate Nick and Chick sprang behind and close to it. The wheels had not rolled over the sidewalk before Patsy came up on a run and joined them. As the coach cleared the gates they were swung to as before. But not quickly enough to shut out the three detectives. The moment it stopped the door of the coach was opened and Lannigan stepped out. Nick, with a bound, was beside him and, striking him heavily with the butt of his pistol on the head, knocked him clean over. At the same moment he called to Ida to guard Mrs. Ladew in the coach. Driscoll, who was in the courtyard to receive the carriage, seeing the attack on Lannigan, rushed forward, but was met by Patsy, who hit him squarely in the face, but not until Driscoll had recognized Nick Carter and cried out his name. Though he had fallen under the force of Patsy’s blow, he picked himself up and took to his heels without waiting for anything further to occur. Under the lead of Nick, Chick and Patsy rushed to the winding stairs and reached the bridge before an alarm had been given to any of the others. Who they were to meet they had little idea, but Chick thought they would have to encounter not less than six. As they entered that rear building from the bridge they met a man whom Nick concluded at once was the man Clowes and, without waiting for any act upon that man’s part, he sprang forward and struck him a terrific blow in the face which toppled him over. “Take care of that man, Patsy,” cried Nick. He dashed along the hallway, closely followed by Chick. Patsy stopped to look at the man and saw at a glance that he was unconscious. He called after Nick: “You’ve done that already. I couldn’t take better care of him if I was to hit him with a sledge-hammer.” And he ran after the other two. At the door of the room where they supposed Ellison had been taken they met two or three, who had been attracted by the noise and scuffle in the hall. Nick sprang forward, striking with both hands, and Chick was beside him in the effort. The force with which they had jumped forward carried them into the room. A hasty glance showed them a man bound on the bed, while one was bending over him.