And well and truly did that steel uphold its fame.
The dull, chopping sound of the blow stood by itself for an instant.
Then McKeever, looking down in horror at his hand, screamed and fell back in his chair.
That was the instant when Frederic Fernand judged his lieutenant and found him wanting.

A man who fainted in such a crisis as this was beyond the pale.
Other people crowded past him.

Frightened, desperate, he pushed on.

At length his weight enabled him to squeeze through the rapidly gathering crowd of gamblers.
The only nonchalant man of the lot was he who had actually used the weapon.

For Ronicky Doone stood with his shoulders propped against the wall, his hands clasped lightly behind him.