Louis, disturbed by my cry, lost his nerve, and the blow fell upon a small side table, smashing it through, and sending splinters flying into the air.

Both men looked at me in the blankest of amazement.

I came out into the sitting-room.
"You coward!" I said to Louis.
He shrank back against the wall.

He still held the stick in his hand, but he showed not a sign of fight.

The other man stood with clenched fists, as though about to spring upon him, but I stepped between them.
"In the first place," I said to the newcomer, "you had better look into that room.