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Updated: June 29, 2025
He moved toward the door, but even as he would have opened it, it moved back and three men stepped inside. They saw Uncle John and the unconscious form of Robard at first glance, and sprang upon Uncle John with a shout. Uncle John drew a long breath and waded into the midst of them.
"Well, did you blow up the whole Italian army?" asked Chester with a pleasant smile. Robard stretched out a hand suddenly and seized Chester by the wrist and with his other hand struck the lad heavily in the face. Chester reeled back, but, recovering, promptly sent his right first into Robard's face.
"We're not what you would call ready," replied Hal, with an attempt at levity, "but if you say it's time to move, we may as well agree with you." "Your reasoning is to be commended," said Robard. He stepped to the door and raised his voice in a shout. A moment later a second man stood beside him.
"You have hit the nail on the head there, old fellow," agreed Hal. After a ten-minute drive the machine came to an abrupt stop. "Out you go," said a gruff voice in very poor English. It was the voice of one of their captors and the prisoners obeyed. Ahead, the ambassador and Robard were walking down the steps to the canal, and a few moments later a large closed gondola came toward them.
Outside the door Hal led the way down the hall toward the front door, where he saw perhaps half a dozen other figures standing about. These proved to be more Austrians. Near the door Hal halted at a word of command from Robard and the three prisoners soon were surrounded.
"Untie these fellows while I keep them covered," he ordered, at the same time producing a brace of automatics. The man stepped forward and with a few quick movements relieved the prisoners of their bonds. He stepped back. "Stand up!" commanded Robard, levelling his revolvers, "and mind, no tricks." Hal, Chester and Uncle John obeyed.
"Then I would advise you to keep away from him," said Hal. The sound of footsteps outside the door prevented Robard from replying. Levelling a revolver at the lads, he motioned them to be silent, and took up a position at the side of the hall, where he would be concealed by the door when it swung inward. A hand turned the knob and the door swung back. Uncle John's face appeared in the doorway.
That night, when Marie came in to light the lamps and brush Joyce's hair before dinner, she had some news to tell. "Brossard has been sent away from the Ciseaux place," she said. "A new man is coming to-morrow, and my friend, Clotilde Robard, has already taken the position of housekeeper.
Twenty minutes later the three prisoners found themselves in a first class section on the special express for Venice, vigilantly guarded by two Austrians, who had been placed in charge of them after they had been securely tied up at Robard's command. Robard himself had entered another compartment with the ambassador.
"You'll be safer this way," the Austrian had said with a smile, after testing their bonds to make sure they were secure. "Looks like we were pretty safe any way you might put us," replied Hal grimly. "You Americans are pretty slippery customers; I won't take any chances with you," was the rejoinder, and Robard took his leave.
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