Jimmy broke the seal of the envelope. Half his mind was busy in speculation as to its contents, the other half was engaged with the lawyer’s plans. Jimmy was too experienced a man to be deceived by the complaisance of the smooth Mr. Spedding. He watched his every move. All the while he was engaged in what appeared to be a concentrated examination of the packet his eyes never left the lawyer. That Spedding made no sign was a further proof in Jimmy’s eyes that the coup was to come. “We might as well examine the envelope upstairs as here,” said the lawyer. The other man nodded, and followed him from the cell. Spedding closed the steel door and locked it, then turned to Jimmy. “Do you notice,” he said with some satisfaction, “how skilfully this chamber is constructed?” He waved his hand round the larger vault, at the iron racks and the shiny black boxes. Jimmy was alert now. The lawyer’s geniality was too gratuitous, his remarks a trifle inapropos. It was like the lame introduction to a story which the teller was anxious to drag in at all hazards. “Here, for instance,” said the lawyer, tapping one of the boxes, “is what appears to be an ordinary deed box. As a matter of fact, it is an ingenious device for trapping burglars, if they should by any chance reach the vault. It is not opened by an ordinary key, but by the pressure of a button, either in my room or here.” He walked leisurely to the end of the vault, Jimmy following. For a man of his build Spedding was a remarkably agile man. Jimmy had underrated his agility. He realized this when suddenly the lights went out. Jimmy sprang for the lawyer, and struck the rough stone wall of the vault. He groped quickly left and right, and grasped only the air. “Keep quiet,” commanded Spedding’s calm voice from the other end of the chamber, “and keep cool. I am going to show you my burglar catcher.” Jimmy’s fingers were feeling along the wall for the switch that controlled the lights. As if divining his intention, the lawyer’s voice said-- “The lights are out of control, Jimmy, and I am fairly well out of your reach.” “We shall see,” was Jimmy’s even reply. “And if you start shooting you will only make the atmosphere of this place a little more unbreathable than it is at present,” Spedding went on. Jimmy smiled in the darkness, and the lawyer heard the snap of a Colt pistol as his captive loaded. “Did you notice the little ventilator?” asked the lawyer’s voice again. “Well, I am behind that. Between my unworthy body and your nickel bullets there are two feet of solid masonry.” Jimmy made no reply, his pistol went back to his hip again. He had his electric lamp in his pocket, but prudently kept it there. “Before we go any further,” he said slowly, “will you be good enough to inform me as to your intentions?”