Rudolf advanced, pressing and attacking, only to meet a defence as perfect as his own.

They were in the middle of the room now, close by the table.

Rupert, as though he had eyes in the back of his head, skirted round, avoiding it by a narrow inch.

His breathing was quick and distressed, gasp tumbling over gasp, but still his eye was alert and his hand unerring.

He had but a few moments' more effort left in him: it was enough if he could reach his goal and perpetrate the trick on which his mind, fertile in every base device, was set.