‘I have every respect for your opinion, Charles,’ the other interrupted.  ’You will allow that I have always been a willing and obedient disciple.  But I again say that our personal safety is involved, and that, as far as I see, there is no middle course.  No one could be more averse from cruelty than I am, but you were present with me some months ago when Toussac silenced the man from Bow Street, and certainly it was done with such dexterity that the process was probably more painful to the spectators than to the victim.  He could not have been aware of the horrible sound which announced his own dissolution.  If you and I had constancy enough to endure this—­and if I remember right it was chiefly at your instigation that the deed was done—­then surely on this more vital occasion—­’

‘No, no, Toussac, stop!’ cried the thin man, his voice rising from its soft tones to a perfect scream as the giant’s hairy hand gripped me by the chin once more.  ’I appeal to you, Lucien, upon practical as well as upon moral grounds, not to let this deed be done.  Consider that if things should go against us this will cut us off from all hopes of mercy.  Consider also—­’

This argument seemed for a moment to stagger the younger man, whose olive complexion had turned a shade greyer.

‘There will be no hope for us in any case, Charles,’ said he.  ’We have no choice but to obey Rule 13.’

’Some latitude is allowed to us.  We are ourselves upon the inner committee.’

’But it takes a quorum to change a rule, and we have no powers to do it.’  His pendulous lip was quivering, but there was no softening in his eyes.  Slowly under the pressure of those cruel fingers my chin began to sweep round to my shoulder, and I commended my soul to the Virgin and to Saint Ignatius, who has always been the especial patron of my family.  But this man Charles, who had already befriended me, darted forwards and began to tear at Toussac’s hands with a vehemence which was very different from his former philosophic calm.

‘You shall not kill him!’ he cried angrily.

’Who are you, to set your wills up against mine?  Let him go, Toussac!  Take your thumb from his chin!  I won’t have it done, I tell you!’ Then, as he saw by the inflexible faces of his companions that blustering would not help him, he turned suddenly to tones of entreaty.  ‘See, now!  I’ll make you a promise!’ said he.  ’Listen to me, Lucien!  Let me examine him!  If he is a police spy he shall die!  You may have him then, Toussac.  But if he is only a harmless traveller, who has blundered in here by an evil chance, and who has been led by a foolish curiosity to inquire into our business, then you will leave him to me.’