I was half-strangled by an arm which had been thrown round my neck and I thought it was Milburgh who had detected me the first time and had come back to pinch me.

I tried to push him away, but he struck me on the jaw.
"I was getting frightened for I thought the noise would rouse the people and the police would come, and I must have lost my head.

Before I knew what had happened I had pulled the gun out of my pocket and fired point-blank.

I heard a sound like a thud of the body falling.

The pistol was still in my hand, and my first act was to get rid of it.