"Tell us your real object in coming here," said Duval"s lieutenant.
"I have told you," replied Hal.
"That," said the lieutenant, "is a lie. It"s too absurd. I guess I"ll search you."
He proceeded to do so while Duval kept Hal covered. There was not much to be found--but one thing that Hal feared he would discover and which he realized he should have dropped with the revolvers under the bed.
His searcher found it, drew it forth, and, with an exclamation of triumph, held it up for Duval to see.
It was the police whistle General Gallieni had given him.
"So!" he exclaimed. "A police spy, eh! I thought so."
Hal shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, you have me," he said. "What are you going to do with me?"
The two men laughed.
"I guess you won"t be as much surprised at what we are going to do as the manner in which we are going to do it," replied Duval, with an evil leer.
"How?" asked his lieutenant. "Water?"
"Right," was his chief"s reply. He turned to Hal. "This house," he explained, "is on the very bank of the River Seine. Perhaps you have skirmished about in the rear?"
Hal shook his head negatively.
"Well, such is the case. In the cellar is a neat little room of four solid walls--no windows. There is a slight crack at the bottom, and through this, by a contrivance of my own, I can let in the waters of the river. The door is solid, and, once locked in, you cannot get out. I believe that this is a fitting death for a police spy. What do you think?"
Again Hal shrugged his shoulders.
"One way is as good as another," he said briefly. Duval turned to his companion with a laugh.
"Quite a brave man we have here, eh?"
"Quite," returned the other. "However, I guess he"ll change his tune when the water gets up to his neck."
"Right you are," was the reply. "But what do you say? Shall he not sup with us first?"
"A good idea!" exclaimed his lieutenant.
Hal had been thinking rapidly. The men still held their revolvers in their hands, but they no longer covered him. Taking advantage of this fact, Hal suddenly dived under the bed and his two automatics were once more in his hand.
But the two men were after him in an instant. Before he could turn and bring his weapons to bear they had him covered, while Duval cried out:
"Come out from there, or I"ll put a hole through you."
Hal realized that he could not hope to dispose of his two enemies, so quickly shoving the two revolvers into his clothes, he once more emerged and got to his feet.
"What are you, an ostrich?" demanded Duval, with a slight smile. "Think if you get your head out of sight you are safe?"
Hal made no reply, but he felt considerably more comfortable with his two automatics reposing safely at hand.
"Well, we might as well give the doomed a little bite to hold him up,"
said Duval, with a smirk. "You guard him now while I see what the pantry has to offer. Keep him covered with your gun, for he is desperate and may jump you."
"I"ll guard him, all right," was the reply.
"Good! Of course, it is easy enough to shoot him, but I would rather have him swim a while first."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
FIGHT AND ESCAPE.
Duval returned a few moments later with sandwiches and milk, which he placed upon a table at one side of the room. He drew up three chairs and motioned the other two to seats. Then, with his revolver upon the table near him, he sat down himself.
"Don"t stand on ceremony," he said to Hal. "This will be your last meal on earth, so you may as well make the most of it. Pitch in."
"Thanks," replied Hal, showing no sign of fear.
He picked up a sandwich and proceeded to eat it with apparent relish.
Light now filtered through a window at the far end of the room. Duval glanced at his watch.
"Mon Dieu!" he exclaimed. "I had no idea it was so late."
"What time is it?" asked Hal calmly.
"I can"t see as it makes any difference to you," said Duval, with an evil leer. "You are not going any place. However, I"ll tell you. It is now just ten minutes past eight."
Hal did not reply, and proceeded to finish his sandwich.
Finally, all the food having disappeared, Duval pushed back his chair and produced three cigars, one of which he offered to Hal and the other to his lieutenant.
"I don"t smoke," said Hal; "thanks all the same."
"Suit yourself," replied Duval. "However, you may as well make yourself comfortable while we enjoy our cigars."
He puffed luxuriously, as did the other.
Hal also leaned back in his chair. He chafed under this restraint, but he realized that it would be foolish to make an effort to escape under the very mouths of his two captors" guns. Nevertheless, he was ready to take advantage of the first opportunity that should offer itself.
But none came.