“They were members of the gang you told me about, the gang that’s controlled by that rascal Candover, I’ve no doubt,” said Gerard in her ear. “They thought you were all alone here, and that they could frighten you away, frighten you into giving up possession of this place which is yours.” “Oh, Gerard, do you really think that?” “I do indeed. They never meant to take you away--at least, if they had, they would have taken care to drop you at the first convenient halting-place. Probably they would have left you at some door which they would have represented to you was the door of your solicitor’s. And then they would have driven off. That they merely meant to work upon your woman’s fears to make you give up these premises I feel certain.” “But how do you _know_ all this? Surely you’re only guessing!” objected Audrey, who could not understand her husband’s confident yet excited manner. He looked earnestly into her face. “Can you keep a secret, a dead secret?” he whispered into her ear. “_Your_ secret! Yes, oh, yes!” panted she. He put his lips close to her ear once more. “The second man--the one who disguised his voice--who didn’t want to speak--was----” “Go on, go on. Who was he?” “Tom Gossett, the man whose false evidence secured my conviction. Hush!” And even as the little cry rose to her lips, Gerard silenced it by pressing his own mouth long and tenderly against hers. CHAPTER XXII Both husband and wife were in a whirl of excitement so intense that for a little while they could do nothing, say nothing, but look at each other and exchange muttered and incoherent thanksgivings. Then Gerard said:-- “Look here. We’re in a tight place still, though I think we shall get out of it. But we must be careful, very careful. And we must keep our mouths shut. Do you think you are clever enough to keep a straight face while I fall on the neck of Candover, and receive him as if he were a long-lost brother?” “Oh, Gerard, could you?” “Yes,” snarled Gerard. “I could do anything to bring to book the scoundrel who has pretty well wrecked my life and who tried his hardest to wreck yours!” They had exchanged these words in whispers, and now they remained silent, keeping close together, and instinctively looking round them as if in fear of being overheard. “What are we going to do?” said Audrey helplessly. Gerard hesitated. “In the first place,” he said at last, “we must not leave this place, either of us, just yet. They want to get rid of you, Audrey, and I’ve not the slightest doubt that they would like to get rid of me, but they can’t do it as long as we’re both together. But on the other hand, we must have advice. This is too big a business for us to tackle without help. This Candover seems to be about as artful a rascal as they make ’em. For remember, so far, though we’ve found out a good deal about different members of the gang, we’ve got nothing whatever to convict _him_ by.” “There’s what his wife said!”