ch to obey when to obey either
meant death. His teeth chattered.

"You may have all the time you want, Francois, to wring your hands when
I am gone. Come; to work. Colonel, submit. I'm in a hurry and have no
time to spare. While I do not desire to kill you, self-preservation will
force me to put a bullet into your hide, which will make you an inmate
of the city hospital. Bind his hands behind his back, and no more
nonsense."

"Monsieur," appealingly to Beauvais, "my God, I am forced. He will kill
me!"

"So will I," grimly; "by God, I will!" Beauvais had a plan. If he could
keep Maurice long enough, help might arrive. And he had an excellent
story to tell. Still Francois doddered. With his eye on the Colonel and
the revolver sighted, Maurice picked up the sword. He gave Francois a
vigorous prod. Francois needed no further inducement. He started forward
with alacrity. In the wink of an eye he threw the cord around Beauvais's
arms and pinned them to his sides. Beauvais swore, but the valet was
strong in his fright. He struggled and wound and knotted and tied,
murmuring his pitiful "Mon Dieu!" the while, till the Colonel was the
central figure of a Gordian knot.

"That will do," said Maurice. "Now, Francois, good and faithful servant,
take your master over to the lounge, and sit down beside him until I get
into my clothes. Yes; that's it." He shoved his collar and tie into
a pocket, slipped on his vest and coat, put on his hat and slung his
topcoat over his arm. During these maneuvers the revolver remained
conspicuously in sight. "Now, Francois, lead the way to the street door.
By the time you return to your illustrious master, who is the prince or
duke of something or other, pursuit will be out of the question. Now, as
for you," turning to Beauvais, "the forty-eight hours hold good. During
that time I shall go armed. Forty-eight hours from now I shall inform
the authorities at the nearest consulate. If they catch you, that's your
affair. Off we go, Francois."

"By God!--" began Beauvais, struggling to his feet.

"Come so far as this door," warned Maurice, "and, bound or not, I'll
knock you down. Hang you! Do you think my temper will improve in your
immediate vicinity? Do you think for a moment that I do not lust for
your blood as heartily as you lust for mine? Go to the devil your own
way; you'll go fast enough!" He caught Francois by the shoulders and
pushed him into the hall, followed, and closed the door. Francoi