Aldous guessed that he was feeling for the switch.

He almost fancied he could see Rann's revolver levelled at him through the darkness.

In that thrilling moment his mind worked with the swiftness of a powder flash.

One of his hands touched the edge of the desk-table, and he knew that he was standing directly opposite the curtained window, perhaps six feet from it.

If he flung himself through the window the curtain would save him from being cut to pieces.
No sooner had the idea of escape come to him than he had acted.