The Argosy — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

_ In a Dangerous Strait. 377 but he is in the net at last. The other two are ours also, but the third I don’t know. Is he one of the gang?” The question was addressed to Luigi, who stood in the back- ground, an interested and attentive spectator of the scene. “< Questo 2 certo !—he is one of them, or he would not be here,” replied the valet, coming forward. ‘He is an engraver, and has been at the house frequently of late.” De Fontenay turned a strange look on his favourite servant. ‘*So, Luigi, it is you who have betrayed me?” he said quietly. ‘“With profound regret, and as part of my professional duty, signor, si,” the Italian answered, with his usual obsequiousness. “I did not think it necessary to say, when I entered your excellency’s service, that I was employed by the police to watch you.” “The game is up then,” his master said, with a shrug. ‘Yes, the game is up,” Gilbert echoed, shaking off his torpor and rising ; “for what your servant does not know, I can tell.” ‘That, by heaven, you shall not!” Docquois interposed, with a furious oath. ‘One spy and informer is enough for us.” He raised his revolver to Gilbert as he spoke, but de Fontenay caught his arm. “No bloodshed,” he said peremptorily ; “it will only make matters worse.” As the other jerked his wrist away, there was a sharp report, and de Fontenay staggered back from him, putting his hand to his side. “You have killed him!” exclaimed de Sanzac with emotion, speaking for the first time since the detectives had entered the room ; and he hurried to his friend’s assistance. “I — it is nothing,” de Fontenay gasped, though he had turned lividly pale. ‘If you had wished to serve me, Docquois, you would have taken better aim,” he added, with a bitter smile. ‘*T would rather shoot myself than you, you know that,” the latter answered hoarsely. ‘It was a miserable accident.” ; “To avoid further accidents, M. Docquois,” said the French “agent,” blandly, producing a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, ‘perhaps you will allow me to put on these little ornaments? Ca y est! You also, M. le Vicomte, if you please—thousand thanks ! As to this gentleman, who is English, I think we have a warrant for his arrest on Mr. Luigi’s information. He 7 “Pray allow me to explain!” hastily interrupted Gilbert. “I have no connection whatever with these men ; I was entrapped into their company by false “You will have an opportunity of explaining all that before the magistrate to-morrow,” struck in the superintendent brusquely ; “ in the meantime, sir, if you take my advice, you will hold your tongue, and come quietly with us. Now M. de Fontenay, if you are ready— why, what’s this?” M. de Fontenay had almost fallen from his chair; his hands were hanging, his head drooped on his breast. He i is fainting 1!” exclaimed de Sanzac. VOL. XLIV. AA comicbooks.com