A noose of rope was thrown round his arms and instantly tightened; with a nimbleness which he had not expected Morin knotted it fast.

Courthope turned fiercely; for a moment he struggled with all his force, bearing down upon Morin from his greater height, so that they both staggered and reeled to the foot of the stair.

At his violence the voices of the Morin women, joined by that of Eliz, were lifted in such wild terror that a few moments were sufficient to bring Courthope to reason.

He spoke to Madge with haughty composure.
'Tell him to untie this rope at once.

There is some villain about the house who may do you the greatest injury; you are mad to take from me the power of arresting him.' Madam Morin, seeing the prisoner secured, hastened with her lamp to his bedroom.
Madge, feeling herself safer now, came a little way down the stair with her candle.