“Half a second!” he shouted.  “News!  Do that afterwards.”

“What is it?” asked Malet-Marsac, taken by surprise.

“Put that beastly thing in the drawer while I tell you, then.  It might go off.  I hate pistols,” said Bruce.

Malet-Marsac obeyed.  Bruce was a man to be listened to, and what had to be done could be done when he had gone.  If it were some last piece of duty or service, it should be seen to.

“It is this,” said Bruce.  “You are a liar, a forger, a thief, a dirty pickpocket, a coward, a seller of secrets to Foreign Powers,” and, ere the astounded soldier could speak, John Bruce sprang at him and tried to knock him out.  “Take that you greasy cad—­and fight me if you dare,” he shouted as the other dodged his punch.

Malet-Marsac sprang to his feet, furious, and returned the blow.  In a second the men were fighting fiercely, coolly, murderously.

Bruce was the bigger, stronger, more scientific, and there could be but one result, given ordinary luck.  It was a long, severe, and punishing affair.

“Time,” gasped Malet-Marsac at length, and dropped his hands.  “Get—­breath—­fight—­decently—­time—­’nother round—­after,” and as he spoke Bruce knocked him down and out, proceeding instantly to tie his feet with the punkah-cord and his hands with two handkerchiefs and a pair of braces.  This done, he carried him into his bedroom, and laid him on the bed, and sprinkled his face with water.

Malet-Marsac blinked and stirred.

“Awful sorry, old chap,” said Bruce at length.  “I thought it the best plan.  Will you give me your word to chuck the suicide idea, or do you want some more?”

“You damned fool!  I....” began the trussed one.

“Yes, I know—­but I solemnly swear I won’t untie you, nor let anybody else, until you’ve promised.”

Malet-Marsac swore violently, struggled valiantly and, anon, slept.

When he awoke, ten hours later, he informed Bruce, sitting by the bed, that he had no intention of committing suicide....

Years later, as a grey-haired Major, he learnt, from the man’s own brother, the story of the strange hero who had fascinated him, and of whose past he had known nothing—­save that it had been that of a man.