The Argosy — page 394: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

376 In a Dangerous Strait. The young man gasped as if he were already suffocating. The horror of the idea overpowered him. De Fontenay advanced a step nearer to him, lowering his voice. “ And while you were lying perdu here, mon ami, it should be my pleasant task to console that sweet young demoiselle—not a very difficult one, I fancy. She might mourn for you at first, but she would soon learn to forget you—in my arms.” Before he could utter another word, Gilbert lifted his hand, and struck him in the face. Then, with the energy of desperation he dashed across the room, and seized the bell-rope. Quick as he was, Docquois, who had been watching him closely, anticipated the movement, and snatched it from him. The two men struggled for a moment, when Gilbert, catching his foot in the hearth- rug, fell heavily, dragging his assailant with him. At the same instant de Sanzac uttered a hasty exclamation. ‘‘ Hush—what was that?” he breathed. ‘Someone is at the door!” Docquois started to his feet ; but Gilbert, whose head had struck the fender in his fall, rose with difficulty. “ Keep him quiet—do you hear?” de Fontenay said in a hurried whisper to Docquois. His confederate nodded. Gilbert, who, dazed and giddy, had sunk into a chair, felt a cold touch on his temple—the steel barrel of a revolver, which the Frenchman was holding to his head. “Who is there?” de Fontenay demanded, through the docr, which was being knocked at. “Tt is I, Monsieur,” his valet’s voice replied. ‘A gentleman desires to see you.” His master unlocked the door, and opened it a few inches, ‘‘ A gentleman?” he repeated; “a visitor at this hour! Who is it? what name does he give?” ‘None, Monsieur. He says that he is a stranger to you, but that he comes on urgent business ” “On business so urgent that it cannot be delayed for a moment, M. de Fontenay,” put in another voice; and the door was thrust open, and two strangers made a sudden irruption into the room. “ Mille tonnerres !” shouted Docquois; “ the police!” ‘Just so,” replied the first speaker, a tall burly man of middle age, whom Gilbert recognised as the local superintendent ; “and to save you the fatigue of useless resistance I may mention that my men are here, within call, and that the house is also guarded outside, back and front. This is the man, is it not?” he continued, in- dicating de Fontenay, as he turned to his companion, who wore a moustache and imperial, and a tight-waisted frock-coat. ‘Yes, that is our bird,” the French detective replied airily, ‘and a knowing one he is. It has been a ticklish business to catch him; slo comicbooks.com