I had no time to explain all this to the viscount; besides, there was nothing to be gained by complicating the position.

I simply told M.de Chagny to keep his hand at the level of his eyes, with the arm bent, as though waiting for the command to fire.

With his victim in this attitude, it is impossible even for the most expert strangler to throw the lasso with advantage.

It catches you not only round the neck, but also round the arm or hand.

This enables you easily to unloose the lasso, which then becomes harmless.
After avoiding the commissary of police, a number of door-shutters and the firemen, after meeting the rat-catcher and passing the man in the felt hat unperceived, the viscount and I arrived without obstacle in the third cellar, between the set piece and the scene from the Roi de Lahore.