I soon found out which was the window of his bedroom, and early next morning I took advantage of some ladders which were lying in the lane behind the hotel, and so made my way into his room in the grey of the dawn.

I woke him up and told him that the hour had come when he was to answer for the life he had taken so long before.

I described Drebber's death to him, and I gave him the same choice of the poisoned pills.

Instead of grasping at the chance of safety which that offered him, he sprang from his bed and flew at my throat.

In self-defence I stabbed him to the heart.