"That is not exactly news to me, M'sieur Pierron," I answered quite coolly. "The danger of my country is equally a danger to yours. With England crushed, France, too, must fall."
"We have an army--a brave army--while you have only the skeleton that your great Haldane has left to you," he sneered. "But enough! I have long desired this interview, and am pleased that it has taken place here in Berlin," and he deliberately walked across to the telephone.
I tried to snatch the transmitter from his hand, but though we struggled, he succeeded in inquiring for a number--the number of the police head-quarters.
I was caught like a rat in a trap, fool that I was to have come there at risk of my liberty--I who was always so wary and so circumspect!
I sprang at his throat, to prevent him speaking further.
But his reply was only a hoarse laugh of triumph.
He was asking for somebody--his friend, the chief of police! Then turning to me with a laugh, he said:
"Straus will undoubtedly be pleased to arrest such big game as yourself."
As he uttered the words there sounded a low tap upon the door, and next second it opened, revealing the neat figure in pale blue.
Pierron turned quickly, but in an instant his face was blanched.
"_Dieu! Suzette!_" he gasped, staring at her, while she stood upon the threshold, a strange look overspreading her countenance as she recognised him.
"Ah! Look, M'sieur Jacox!" she shrieked a second later. "Yes--yes, it is that man!" she went on, pointing her finger at him. "At last! Thank God! I have found him!"
"What do you mean?" I demanded. "This is M'sieur Pierron."
"I tell you," she cried, "that is the man whom I saw at the Rue de Royat--the man who strangled poor Madame Levitsky!"
"You lie!" he cried, stepping towards her. "I--I've never seen you before!"
"And yet you have just uttered mademoiselle's name, m'sieur," I remarked quietly.
"He knows that I was present at the time of the tragedy," exclaimed Suzette quickly, "and that he was the paid assassin of Henry Banfield. He killed the unfortunate woman for two reasons: first, in order to obtain her husband's papers, which had both political and financial importance; and secondly, to obtain her jewellery, which was of very considerable value. And upon me, because I was defenceless, the guilt was placed. They said I was jealous of her."