"I'm a long-suffering man," Bellamy said, "and if you don't remember now that you're the beaten dog, I may lose my temper."
He locked them in, walked down the passage and opened the door of Louise's bedchamber with fingers that trembled a little. With a smothered oath he cut the cord from the arms of the maid and the gag from her mouth. Louise, clad in a loose afternoon gown, was lying upon the bed, as though asleep. Bellamy saw with an impulse of relief that she was breathing regularly.
"This is Lassen's work, of course!" he exclaimed. "What have they done to her?"
The maid spoke thickly. She was very pale, and unsteady upon her feet.
"It was something they put in her wine," she faltered. "I heard Mr. Lassen say that it would keep her quiet for three or four hours. I think--I think that she is waking now."
Louise opened her eyes and looked at them with amazement. Bellamy sat by the side of the bed and supported her with his arm.
"It is only a skirmish, dear," he whispered, "and it is a drawn battle, although you got the worst of it."
She put her hand to her head, struggling to remember.
"Mr. Laverick has been here?" she asked.
"He has. Your friend Lassen has been taking a hand in the game. I came here to find you like this and Annette tied up. Henri is in with him. What has become of your other servants I don't know."
"Henri asked for a holiday for them," she said, the color slowly returning to her cheeks. "I begin to understand. But tell me, what happened when Mr. Laverick came?"
"I can only guess," Bellamy answered, "but it seems that Lassen must have received him as though with your authority."
"And what then?" she asked quickly.
"I am almost certain," Bellamy declared, "that Laverick refused to have anything to do with him. I received a wire from Dover to say that you were on your way home, and asking me to meet you at the Lord Warden Hotel. I borrowed Montresor's racing-car, but I sent telegrams, and I was pretty soon on my way back. When I arrived here, I found Lassen in your little room with a broken head. Evidently Laverick and he had a scrimmage and he got the worst of it. I have searched him to his bones and he has no paper. Laverick brought it here, without a doubt, and has taken it away again."
She rose to her feet.
"Go and let Lassen out," she said. "Tell him he must never come here again. I will see him at the Opera House to-night or to-morrow night--that is, if I can get there. I do not know whether I shall feel fit to sing."