Larry thrust his face, sinister and threatening, close to that of the prisoner. "Oh, yes you will," he said menacingly. The detective laughed. "Well, you will know soon enough. I gather that you have been disappointed in the arrival of your yacht. This tunnel probably leads out somewhere by the shore and you hope to slip away to-night by sea, while the police are watching the ports. But there are a hundred armed men on the marsh and the shore is patrolled. There is a fast motor boat just off the beach and beyond that a destroyer. You've only just got to show your nose above ground and you're gone coons, Larry. Now you know just where you stand. I hope you like it." "You're a liar," snarled Billy Bungey. "Leave this to me, Billy," ordered Larry peremptorily. He addressed Labar. "I think you are lying myself. If you are not you can depend upon it that they'll never get me alive. Who will be in charge when they fail to find you?" The detective shook his head. "That I can't tell you. I don't know who will be down from the Yard. But if you think you can bluff them out of this district you'll be disappointed. They'll stick. Better make the best of a bad job, Larry." "Make no mistake, Labar. You will never live to give evidence against any of us." "Then you'll hang," retorted the other amiably. "Not only you, Larry, but all of those here." He raised his voice. "Do you hear me, you people. Some of you may get away with light sentences as it is. But if you let this man----" A hand was clapped roughly about his mouth and he was forced to his knees. But he had said what he wanted. Desperate though many of those under the sway of Larry Hughes were, not all of them would face with composure the probability of being hanged for murder. There were subdued mutterings and he could distinguish the voices of Mrs. Gertstein and Sophie Lengholm. It was the latter who came forward. "Don't be a fool, Larry. The man's right. It can't do us any good to kill him. If we're in the cart, we're in it." Larry swore fiercely at her. "When I want your advice I'll ask for it." The man who held the detective broke in. "He's got the whole business in hand. Let me do him in. Who's to know? Whatever they think we can put him somewhere where they'll never find him. Likely as not things will break down without him. I'm for taking the chance." "Sophie's got the strength of it," said another voice. "Time enough to croak him if we're forced to it. As it is we can afford to wait and see what happens. No good risking our necks until we have to."