“Admitting that, which now seems quite probable, I don’t see how you discovered that Senator Barclay sent for me,” said Nick, pretending he was merely puzzled and had no covert design. “You don’t, eh?” leered Margate, evidently pleased to discuss his own cunning. “I’ll tell you how.” “Well, I’m listening.” “I sent a man to watch your New York residence.” “Ah!” “I knew that if any detective was employed, you would be the one.” “I see.” “And you were seen when you left home alone with a suit case and took the train for Washington,” Margate went on sneeringly. “You were shadowed when you arrived at the Willard. You were watched throughout yesterday. You were seen with Fallon, the infernal dick, dipping into a mess you had better kept out of. You were seen going in disguise to Garland’s office, and afterward to his rooms in the Grayling, where he joined you about five o’clock. You were seen leaving and returning to the Willard, where you remained until to-night, when you went to his rooms again and fixed yourself up to turn this trick on me.” Nick Carter’s face evinced no sign of the satisfaction he now felt. It was obvious to him that Margate had blundered and been deceived, in spite of his precautions. He evidently had, or one of his confederates, been watching Garland in the disguise of the detective, and that none of them suspected the ruse Nick had adopted. It was perfectly plain, therefore, that the presence of Chick and Patsy in Washington was not suspected, and no steps having been taken by the rascals to guard against what they might accomplish, Nick now felt reasonably sure that one or both of them would make good along the lines he had laid out. His own situation did not look nearly as dark as it had before evoking these disclosures, and Nick was content to meet it as he found it. The situation took a more threatening turn, however, sooner than he really expected. Seeing Nick apparently nonplussed by what he had heard, Margate laughed exultantly and quickly added: “But you’ll turn no trick on me, Carter, take my word for it. The boot is on the other leg. I still have Garland where I want him, as well as you. The newspapers tell me all that you have disclosed. I’ll get Garland later--and finish you at once.” “Don’t hurry, Margate,” Nick put in coolly. “I’m in no rush.” “But I am!” snapped the scowling miscreant. “I’m itching to get even with you, to pay you for what you have done to me, to see you dead at my feet. It won’t be long, Carter, not long. You shall pay the price. Take it from me--you shall pay the price!” The threatening face vanished like a flash with the last. The panel flew back into place with a sharp, ominous click. Nick Carter found himself again in inky darkness. He stepped quickly to the opposite wall and listened at the closed panel. He now could hear Margate’s voice in the adjoining corridor, followed by others replying. They told him only too plainly what fate the miscreants had in view for him.