Any explanation that he could make would be disbelieved unless, of course, he produced the Eagle, which was not to be thought of.

Failing the Eagle the more he endeavored to account for his presence the more deeply would he involve the woman he loved.
"I find you here, you that I treated almost like a gentleman, who, I thought, nearly measured up to the title, in my niece's room at this hour of the morning," continued the enraged old man.

"Laure, has he--has he harmed you ?" "You came too quickly, monsieur," answered Marteau, himself, giving the young woman time to recover herself.

"You heard the pistol shot." He threw the weapon from him.

"We were struggling.