At length the secret door opened and the man he was brooding about entered, bowed down with an even more useless collection of stolen objects than the ones which already burdened the room. Striking an attitude, the Picaroon dropped the load he was carrying and roared, "Once more has the Picaroon dared the armed forces and the majesty of The Grandfather's law; once more his nimble fingers have plucked from the very heart of our solid citizenry those stolen treasures which will emblazon his name in the criminal hall of fame." He bowed. Pat said under her breath, "Patience and Fortitude...." Then the Picaroon darted suddenly towards Comstock, his lean fingers outstretched. He said, "And you, you poisonous emissary of the forces of law and order, you, the Picaroon will punish in fitting style!" Comstock held his breath as he waited to see what new vagary had further addled the brain of their insane captor. CHAPTER 11 Before the Picaroon's fingers had quite tightened around Comstock's throat, Pat called out, "Perhaps there is some good reason why your exploits have not been emblazoned for all to read!" The strong fingers slowly opened and the madman turned towards Pat. Taking the cue, Comstock said hurriedly, "Yes, maybe your crimes have not been particularly spectacular!" Some place in Bowdler's huge library Comstock had run across a book devoted to the exploits of a super criminal. Rummaging through his memory, Comstock said, "I've got it! I know just the thing that the Picaroon can do that will insure his infamy becoming noticed." As Pat began to speak, the Picaroon's head swivelled back and forth between her and Comstock. His steel grey eyes were no longer menacing, Comstock was pleased to note. "How about," Pat suggested, "how about stealing...." "One of the R.A.'s cars," Comstock interjected. "Just what I was going to say. And then with the aid of the car, he can...." "Go to the fountainhead, beard The Grandfather in his retreat." "And make sure that his most fantastic and fabulous crime will become known to every living creature in our world by...." "Snipping off The Grandfather's beard!" Comstock finished. Then he waited, his teeth pressed together on his bottom lip. "But," the Picaroon said, in a rather bemused fashion, "that would be blasphemy." "But think of the effrontery of it!" Pat said, leaning forward hopefully, paying no attention to the bonds that held her. "Think of the shock of such an action! Every law-abiding citizen would rise up in wrath. Then the hue and cry would be such that no longer would the Picaroon work long hard hours through the night without ever getting the fame which is his due." Comstock could hardly believe that even this lunatic would fall for what they were suggesting. "What a colossal feat ..." the Picaroon said, almost to himself, "Why didn't _I_ think of it?"