The Mystery of Crocksands by Fred M. White

Ellen felt too sure of her ground to press her advantage unduly. She knew that Clapstone, otherwise Stone, was as wax in her hands now, and she had by no means lost sight of the fact that he had made no attempt to deny her suggestion that the vital document not only existed but was somewhere in his possession. He had hinted to her before in his more valiant moments that he held a certain secret power over Wrath, and she knew now that this had been no idle boast. When the time came, she felt sure that she could compel Clapstone to speak the truth. The man knew, moreover, that Wrath would throw his confederate over without the slightest hesitation, and that he would deny having taken any part in the big lottery. And on the face of it there was nothing to prove that Wrath had had anything whatever to do with it. But then, Ellen was not aware of the fact that Wrath, in his arrogance and impudence, had overreached himself during his interview with Inspector Wilder, when he had told the official in question that he was the actual winner of the prize. And this was going to count very heavily against Wrath when the day of reckoning came.

Any way, Clapstone was safe in the Tower by this time, and Ellen had agreed to see later on to his creature comforts. And early next morning she would see Evors and Bly and tell them what had happened. Before Wrath could return to Crocksands her friends would interview Clapstone in the Tower and compel him to agree to any course they cared to adopt. Whatever Clapstone might have at the back of his mind, his desire to preserve his liberty would override everything else. He must save that at any cost, and the price he would have to pay for his personal safety and a swift passage across the Channel would be either the surrendering of the vital document or the secret of its hiding place. Between the three of them the truth would be forced from Clapstone. Meanwhile, he was safe enough in the Tower, and Ellen went down to dinner presently with a comparatively easy mind.