"No," I cried angrily. "You shall say nothing against your victim's honour, curse you! I only thank Heaven that I'm here to-night--that I know the truth regarding this tragedy. Your intention was--the intention of all three of you, no doubt, was--to get rid of the evidence of your crime. But that will now be impossible."
As I uttered that last sentence, the bearded Frenchman made a movement towards the door.
"Halt!" I cried in a loud, imperious voice. "Come back here. Do not attempt to leave this room or I'll shoot you," and as he glanced at me he found himself looking into the barrel of my weapon.
"Come," said Gregory. "Enough of this fooling! It's a drawn game between us, Mr. Vidal. Why not let us discuss the future quietly and without any ill-feeling on either side. I admit what I have done--killed the traitress."
"And by Heaven! you shall pay the penalty of your crime!" I cried.
"Oh, shall I?" he laughed with a nonchalant air. "We shall see."
Next instant I heard a sharp click in the passage outside and the room was plunged in darkness. The electric light had been switched off by one of Gregory's confederates out in the hall.
I heard the door opened, and voices shouted wildly in French.
"Just in time," I heard the new-comer cry.
"Ah, Jules!" gasped Gregory. "You are late. Where have you been? Where are you?"
And, by the shuffling of feet, I knew that the men were groping about in the darkness.
"_Dieu!_ You were nearly trapped, all of you," I heard him cry. "Where is he?" he asked, referring to myself. "He shall not live to blab. Mind he doesn't get out by the window."
But I still stood with my back against the wall, my pistol raised in self-defence.
A few moments elapsed--moments that seemed like hours--when of a sudden my eyes were blinded by the ray of an electric torch which threw a strong light upon me from the doorway.
Ere I could realize my peril, there was a red flash, followed by a loud explosion, and I felt a hot, stinging sensation in my throat.
Then next second the blackness of unconsciousness fell upon me, and I knew no more.
How long I remained there, or what subsequently happened to me, I did not learn till long afterwards.
I only knew, when I again awoke to consciousness, that it was day, and I found myself in a narrow bed, with two nurses in blue linen dresses, and white caps and aprons, standing near me, while two doctors were gazing into my face with keen, anxious expressions.