Is it the way of the spider then ?" With a snarl as of a wild beast, Louis Racine sprang forward and struck Fournel in the face with his clinched fist.

Then, as Fournel, blinded, staggered back upon the book-shelves, he snatched two antique swords from the wall.

Throwing one on the floor in front of the Englishman, he ran to the door and locked it, and turned round, the sword grasped firmly in his hand, and white with rage.
"Spider! Spider! By Heaven, you shall have the spider dance before you!" he said hoarsely.

He had mistaken Fournel's meaning.

He had put the most horrible construction upon it.