Margate took a gag from his pocket and fastened it in Patsy’s mouth. “Now, gentlemen, we are ready,” said Deland. “Bring him with us. Let him see what he may. It’s a pleasure to gratify him. Murderers are well fed and wined, even, if wanted, before their execution. Bring him along.” He turned with the last and tore off several palings, already loosened, from the high fence. Forced on by the other three ruffians, Patsy was conducted to the door of one of the tombs, some twenty yards from where the wagon had been left. Deland took a key from his pocket and unlocked the iron door, which Pitman and Ruff quickly removed and stood against a near bank. “Look!” said Deland. “Here is what we came after.” He shot the beam of an electric lamp into the tomb. Patsy looked and saw--the long, wooden case and the florist’s boxes seen in the undertaker’s wagon that morning. He could not speak, but he glared at the smiling miscreant near by, and Deland laughed audibly. “A safe concealment, Garvan,” he remarked. “Even your famous Nick Carter will never think of this. Nor will you ever inform him. For, after removing the plunder for which we had labored--I shall leave you here!” Patsy felt a chill run down his spine, and a cold perspiration broke out all over him. “You will not be found,” Deland added, with merciless deliberation. “There may be no occasion to reopen this tomb for years. Nor can you escape, or make yourself heard, for we shall bind your feet and leave you in the box now containing part of our booty. Move lively, mates! The sooner we are away, now, the better.” “Gee! here’s a fine outlook,” thought Patsy, steadying his nerves. “This miscreant means what he said. Nor will either of these rascals oppose him. Great guns! it looks tough, for fair!” The three ruffians, Deland watching, already were transferring the pasteboard boxes to the wagon, a task that occupied them only a few minutes. The cover then was removed from the undertaker’s box, which stood on the floor of the tomb. Patsy could only stand and gaze. When he returned with his companions for the last time, Margate brought a screw driver from the wagon. “Off with the cover, Jim,” said Deland coldly. “Save the screws so that we may fasten it on again--with this meddlesome feller under it. I will teach him to interfere with my business, already sufficiently hazardous. Make haste. Put the stuff out here on the ground. We four then can take it to the wagon, after locking the tomb door.” The knaves were at work while he was speaking. Patsy saw small but costly old paintings, boxes of gems and jade, the priceless Strad violin, then in its case--these and many other treasures Patsy saw brought out and laid upon the ground. There was no delay over what followed, no argument about it, no sign of mercy in the eyes of either of his captors. Patsy was rudely thrown to the ground and his legs securely bound.