Her bosom no longer rose and fell.

The only movement was the visible knocking of her heart.

I felt that, in another moment, if he found what she had hidden, her heart would knock no longer, and she would die.

For a second I wildly counted the chances of overpowering all three men, stunning them into unconsciousness, and giving Maxine time to escape with the letter-case.

But I knew the attempt would be useless.