"Indeed! Will you do me the honor to make it clear?" "Certainly. Last Sunday night a tool of yours named Yeasky stole a magnetic contrivance from the shops of the Torpedo Station. He gave it to you. I want it. I am going to get it before either you or I leave this room." Koltsoff clasped his hands together. "I recognize you as a servant in the employ of this house. What right have you to address me? Now, go to your quarters at once or I shall report you. You are intoxicated!" "Am I!" He backed before the door as Koltsoff's eyes moved toward it, covering at the same time the call buttons in the wall at the side of the jamb. The Prince laughed and leaned carelessly back against a table. "Very well, since you appear to deny your identity, as well as your condition--which is quite obvious, I beg you to know--I can admit only that you have the advantage of me." "Oh, shut up!" said Jack angrily. "Are you going to give me that control? My name is Armitage. I invented that device and you and your dirty band of square-heads stole it. I want it back now, quick! And if--" The Prince still smiling, interrupted. "Ah, Armitage, I might have known. Allow me to say that you wore the Wellington livery with better grace than the gentleman's clothing that now adorns you--with better grace, I might even venture, than the uniform you occasionally wear." Armitage, who quickly saw the advantage of Koltsoff's poise, curbed his anger, at least so far as speech was concerned. "Look here, Koltsoff," he said, "let us understand each other. I am going to get that control or one or the other of us is going to be carried out of this room." "You have the revolver--it will probably be I," said Koltsoff. With an exclamation Jack reached into his pocket, drew out the revolver, and hurled it through the open window. They could hear it clatter on the cliffs below and then splash into the ocean. Instinctively, Koltsoff's eyes had followed the flight of the weapon. When he turned his head Jack was close at his side. The Russian stepped back. Jack moved forward. "Now," he said in a low tense voice, "that magnetic control--quick!" There was no mistaking the quiet ferocity of his manner. Koltsoff had ceased to smile. "I have n't it." "Are--you--going--to--give--me--that--control?" "I have n't it. I swear. Look--look anywhere, everywhere. See if I do not speak the truth." "Then get it." Koltsoff moved to a bureau and Jack followed him. "Wait," said the Russian. Then like lightning his hand shot out to a heavy brass candlestick and the next instant had aimed a murderous blow at Jack's head. Armitage caught the flash of the descending weapon in time to duck his head, taking the force upon the lower muscles of his neck. The wave of pain was as the lash to a mettlesome horse. Before the Prince could swing the candlestick again Armitage had him by the throat and bore him to the floor, half stifling his shriek for help.