Time would tell.
It was enough that they expected to kill him, sooner or later.

This, in itself, was sufficient to convince him that he was not to be held for ransom, but to be disposed of for reasons best known to his captors.
Like a shot the warning of Olga Platanova flashed into his brain.

Here, then, was the proof that she actually knew of the peril he was in.

But why should he be an object of concern to these men, whoever they were?
His guard had mentioned "the old man." Good heavens, could he mean Spantz?
The cold perspiration was standing on King's brow.

Spantz! He recalled the wickedness in the armourer's face.