I wish I had burned out his entrails." Anastasius sprang at him like a tiger cat.

I had a quick vision of the dwarf clinging in the air against the other's bulky form, one hand at his throat, and then of an incredibly swift flash of steel.

The dwarf dropped off and rolled backwards, revealing something black sticking out of Vauvenarde's frock-coat--for the second I could not realise what it was.

Then Vauvenarde, with a ghastly face, reeled sideways and collapsed in a heap on the ground..