room, when the diamond broker, who
was close behind, flung a long silk scarf round his neck, and, pushing
his knee into his victim's back for a support, he attempted to give,
with Herculean force, the famous stroke of Father Francis Vigozous;
energetic, Thomery did not lose his presence of mind.... He knew that to
resist such a pull by simple force was impossible.... Quickly he threw
himself backwards, thus giving to the strangling pull and falling on top
of the woman, who had played this dastardly trick on him. From his
constricted throat came a hoarse "Ah!" like a death rattle.

As he was falling, for one flashing second, it seemed as though he were
going to escape from the vise which was crushing in his throat... then,
out of the shadow, there had appeared the fantastic vision of a man in a
tight fitting sort of black jersey, which covered him from head to
foot.... His face was concealed by a hooded mask....

This man had leapt out of the shadow.

He held a dagger in his hand.

Before Thomery had time to make a movement, the masked man had pierced
his chest with a single stroke!... The sugar refiner was naught but a
convulsive corpse.

"Ah, well!" declared the so-called diamond broker, who had got to his
feet and was kicking Thomery's body aside. "Ah, well, he is a dead
weight this fellow!... By Jove, master, I fancied he was going to crush
me, and that I should have to let him free!... You did well to come to
the rescue!"

The masked man remarked in an indifferent tone:

"It really does not matter in the slightest!... Tell me, does anyone
suspect?"

"No one, master. He came like a sheep to the slaughter."

"Princess Danidoff?"

"Ah, as for her--she must be waiting for the return of her beloved
friend.... I do not advise you to pay her a visit!"

"Be silent, chatter-box!" ordered the masked assassin sharply. "Get rid
of your clothes.... We must hurry!... We have work to do!"

"This evening?"

"This evening!"

And, whilst the diamond broker rid himself rapidly of skirt and bodice
and regained his masculine appearance--for this diamond broker was a
man--the masked assassin added:

"Nibet, you have played your part perfectly, and I will pay you
to-morrow the sum we agreed on; but, I repeat, we have work before us
this evening--so, be quick!"

There was a short silence, then the bandit asked:

"You have arranged to put among this fool's papers the rent receipts,
which will enable the police to find