Above his head something bright flashed up, then down.

There was a dull crack, and the Captain stopped short in his rush; his hands were jerked to the height of his breast, and like a pole-axed beast he dropped and lay prone at her feet.
Across his fallen body she beheld La Boulaye standing impassively, the ghost of a smile on his thin lips, and in his hand one of the heavy silver candlesticks from the table.
Whilst a man might count a dozen they stood so with no word spoken.
Then: "It was a cowardly blow, Citoyenne," said the Deputy in accents of regret; "but what choice had I ?" He set down the candlestick, and kneeling beside Charlot, he felt for the Captain's heart.

"The door, Citoyenne," he muttered.

"Lock it." Mechanically, and without uttering a word, she hastened to do his bidding.

As the key grated in the lock he rose.
"It has only stunned him," he announced.