He gave a cry of rage, and before I could retire to some safe entrenchment behind the table or the sofa, he was upon me like a mad dog.  He had me by the throat, and I had rolled backwards down on to the floor, with him on the top of me, squeezing the breath out of me till I verily thought that my last hour had come.  Estelle had run out of the room like a startled hare.  This, of course, was in accordance with my instructions to her, but I could not help wishing then that she had been less obedient and somewhat more helpful.

As it was, I was beginning to feel a mere worm in the grip of that savage scoundrel, whose face I could perceive just above me, distorted with passion, whilst hoarse ejaculations escaped his trembling lips: 

“You meddlesome fool!  You oaf!  You toad!  This for your interference!” he added as he gave me a vigorous punch on the head.

I felt my senses reeling.  My head was swimming, my eyes no longer could see distinctly.  It seemed as if an unbearable pressure upon my chest would finally squeeze the last breath out of my body.

I was trying to remember the prayers I used to murmur at my mother’s knee, for verily I thought that I was dying, when suddenly, through my fading senses, came the sound of a long, hoarse cry, whilst the floor was shaken as with an earthquake.  The next moment the pressure on my chest seemed to relax.  I could hear Farewell’s voice uttering language such as it would be impossible for me to put on record; and through it all hoarse and convulsive cries of:  “You shan’t hurt him—­you limb of Satan, you!”

Gradually strength returned to me.  I could see as well as hear, and what I saw filled me with wonder and with pride.  Wonder at Ma’ame Dupont’s pluck!  Pride in that her love for me had given such power to her mighty arms!  Aroused from her slumbers by the sound of the scuffle, she had run to the study, only to find me in deadly peril of my life.  Without a second’s hesitation she had rushed on Farewell, seized him by the collar, pulled him away from me, and then thrown the whole weight of her hundred kilos upon him, rendering him helpless.

Ah, woman! lovely, selfless woman!  My heart a prey to remorse, in that I could not remain in order to thank my plucky deliverer, I nevertheless finally struggled to my feet and fled from the apartment and down the stairs, never drawing breath till I felt Estelle’s hand resting confidingly upon my arm.

5.

I took her to the house where she used to lodge, and placed her under the care of the kind concierge who was Theodore’s aunt.  Then I, too, went home, determined to get a good night’s rest.  The morning would be a busy one for me.  There would be the special licence to get, the cure of St. Jacques to interview, the religious ceremony to arrange for, and the places to book on the stagecoach for Boulogne en route for England—­and fortune.