“I no more want to discuss my affairs, than you want to discuss yours,” said the Colonel gruffly; “here is the proposition,” he thumped the table, “do you take it?” Michael shook his head. “I won’t be rude to you,” he said, “because you are an older man and because you are going to end your life rather miserably in a very short time.” He saw the man wince. “I am not saying that with the object of offending you,” Michael continued. “I am just telling you what is the truth. Suppose you get away from here, how are you going to make your escape from England? By this time every port is closed to you.” “I will tell you how we are going to get out of England,” said Gregori, “we are going to leave by the only route possible, by ship from London.” “By ship from London?” it was the surprised voice of the girl. “We have done a little planning on our own, Kate,” said Gregori with a grin; “this is our last job. We didn’t tell you because we didn’t think it was worth while upsetting you. Everything was arranged last week.” “Without my knowledge,” she said. He nodded. “What do you say, Pretherston? It is your last chance.” “It isn’t my last chance,” said the other cheerfully. “What do you mean?” “That you will find out,” said Michael with a sudden sternness. “I warn you that your time is very short.” “Your time will be shorter,” said Gregori with a sinister smile. “We will give him half-an-hour to think over it,” suggested Jacques; “put him in the engine room.” The engine room was the uncomfortable little shed which had been built on to the mixing shop to accommodate a dynamo. It was now empty save for a truckle bed on which one of the gang had slept. Padlocked iron doors led to the mixing room and to the outer world, but to make doubly sure, Garon volunteered to stand outside the building and keep guard. Michael was thrust into the little room and the door slammed upon him. “Now,” said Gregori when they were back again in the office, “we have to decide and decide quickly. If we can be sure that this fellow is alone he has got to be killed.” “Killed?” said Kate. “Oh, no, no!” He turned on her with a snarl. “This is our job. You keep out of this, Kate,” he said. “I tell you it must be done, for all our sakes.” “The first thing,” said the Colonel, “is to get the gold away.” “It will be loaded on to the trucks to-morrow morning,” said Gregori, “and we had better keep this fellow alive until it is gone.” “Are we using our own trucks?” Gregori shook his head. “Oh, no,” he said, “that would be too dangerous. I have hired ten, from a man in Eastbourne who is used to handling machinery. He has no idea what sort of factory this is and I have told him it is a preparation of lead we are shipping to the docks. Young Stockmar will meet the convoy in London. Our own men are on board the ship and will load the stuff.” “It is a bit risky,” said Colling Jacques shaking his head, “sending all that money through London without a guard.”