“Yes, sir. Hang them, that’s just what came off.” “One of them must have impersonated you, Toulon, for the message was taken to Mr. Vandyke.” “Taken to him?” Toulon appeared astonished. “Is that so, sir?” “Yes, surely,” Nick nodded. “But what now puzzles me, Toulon, is how he could have known anything about the message, Lenaire having given it to you.” “Well, sir, he might have been listening under the dining-room window when Mr. Lenaire gave me the message,” Toulon quickly suggested, with his gaze fixed on the detective’s face. “Ah, by Jove, I hadn’t thought of that,” Nick exclaimed, with countenance lighting. “That may explain it, Chick, after all.” “Yes, indeed,” Chick quickly agreed, now seeing precisely at what Nick was driving. “It certainly clears up that point.” “Surely,” Nick added. “I’m glad he suggested it. So, instead of immediately taking the message, Toulon, you slipped out to have a smoke.” “Yes, sir, a short one.” “From your pipe, or----” “No, sir, a cigarette,” Toulon quickly put in. “Ah, I see,” Nick bowed, glancing at the waiter’s hands. “I don’t know that you are to be blamed. I know what it means, Toulon, to hanker for a smoke. Are you in the habit of smoking cigarettes?” “I am, sir.” “What kind do you use?” Toulon hesitated for the hundredth part of a second. He then said quickly: “Any old kind, sir. I’m not particular.” “I prefer the Egyptian,” Nick remarked agreeably. “They have rather more flavor. I wouldn’t mind having one, too, or any old kind, as far as that goes--if you have yours in your pocket, Toulon.” A tinge of red appeared in Toulon’s cheeks, while his brows knit perceptibly. “I haven’t, sir,” he replied, in some confusion. “I lit the last one I had and threw away the box. Mebbe one of the other waiters has some. I’ll ask them, sir, and----” “Oh, no, we’ll not go to that trouble,” Nick interposed, smiling. “I can get along without one. I merely thought that I’d try one of yours while we were discussing this knavish business.” “I’m sorry, sir, that I haven’t one.” “It don’t matter. Just where were you, Toulon, when you saw the three men?” “I was near the bulkhead door and steps to the cellar,” Toulon now replied glibly. “But I didn’t see the men, sir.” “Why was that?” “Because they were hidden on the steps, sir, and they jumped on me before I could get a look at them.” “Was the bulkhead door open?” “It must have been, or I would have heard them open it.” “I see.” “The first I knew, sir, was when they sprang on me from behind,” Toulon proceeded to explain. “One of them cracked me on the head with a sand bag. Another got me by the throat and jabbed something into my neck. Here’s where it scratched me. It seemed to take all the strength out of me. Then they bound and gagged me, sir, and then threw me down the steps and closed the door.”