The door of Josephine's room was closed, and he reentered his room.

For a moment he stood facing the window.

In the same instant there came the report of a rifle and the crashing of glass.

A shower of shot-like particles struck his face.

He heard a dull smash behind him, and then a stinging, red-hot pain shot across his arm, as if a whiplash had seared his naked flesh.