"I know more concerning you than you think," was my firm reply. "And I give you an alternative, Monsieur Guertin. Either you will reveal to me the whole truth concerning those men Reckitt and Forbes and my wife's connection with them, or I shall telephone to the police, and have you arrested as a member of the gang." "My dear monsieur," he replied, with a good-humoured smile, "I can't tell you facts of which I possess no knowledge. I am here to make inquiry of you--to----" "To mislead me further!" I cried angrily. "You and your friends may be extremely clever--you have succeeded in enticing my wife away from her home, and you expect to befool me further. Remember that I nearly lost my life in that grim house in Bayswater. Therefore at least I can secure the arrest of one member of the gang." "And you would arrest me--eh?" he asked, looking me straight in the face, suddenly growing serious. "Yes, I intend to," I replied, whipping out my revolver from my hip pocket. "Put that thing away," he urged. "Be reasonable. What would you profit by arresting me?" "You shall either speak--tell me the truth, or I will hand you over to the police. I have only to touch this bell"--and I raised my hand to the electric button beside the fireplace--"and a telephone message will call a constable." "And you really would give me in charge--eh?" laughed my visitor. "I certainly intend doing so," I answered angrily. "Well, before this is done, let us speak frankly for a few moments," suggested the Frenchman. "You tell me that you nearly lost your life in some house in Bayswater. Where was that?" "In Porchester Terrace. What is the use of affecting ignorance?" "I do not affect ignorance," he said, and I saw that a change had completely overspread his countenance. "I only wish to know the extent of your knowledge of Reckitt and Forbes." "I have but little knowledge of your friends, I'm pleased to say," was my quick rejoinder. "Let us leave them out of the question. What I desire to know is the whereabouts of my wife." He shrugged his broad shoulders. "I regret that I have no knowledge of where madame may be." "But you have!" I cried, facing him angrily. "She is probably with Pennington, her father, who seems to be one of your undesirable fraternity." "No, she is not with him, most certainly," my visitor declared. "I know that for a fact. She is probably with Lewis." "And who is this fellow Lewis?" I demanded. For a moment he was silent. "I think you had better ask madame, your wife," he replied at last. "Do you intend to cast a slur upon her?" I cried, facing him resentfully. "Not in the least," was his cool answer. "I have merely replied to your question." "And have given me most impertinent advice! Will you, or will you not, tell me who the fellow is?" "At present, monsieur, I must refuse." "Then I shall press the bell, and give you into custody." "Ah!" he laughed, "that will be distinctly amusing." "For me, perhaps--not for you."