Marteau handed that to the girl.
"The last shot, mademoiselle," he said meaningly, "for yourself if----" "I understand." "If you could only get to the door," growled the Russian commander, "my men outside would make short work of----" "It is impossible until we have dealt with these villains," said Marteau.

"On guard!" he cried as the marauders suddenly leaped forward.
The big Englishman, burly, tremendously powerful for all his advancing years, dropped his sword for a moment, picked up one of the heavy oak chairs and hurled it full into the face of the larger body at the further end of the room.

One stumbled over it, two others fell.

The next moment both parties were upon the little group.

In their haste, in their drunken excitement, the marauders had not thought to recharge their pistols.