At this moment Hagar could restrain her terror no longer, and a heavy half-sigh half-groan burst from her.
Both men turned at once toward the curtains, and the bolder one put his hand to draw a weapon, knife or pistol; but before he could get it out, I stepped forward and covered him with my revolver.
"The Englishman!" they both cried in a breath, and the man by the door darted out of the room.
His companion stood his ground and met my look steadily.
"So it's your work, eh?"
"Take your hand from that weapon of yours," I cried sternly.
"What quarrel have you with me?"
"Do as I say," I thundered.
He took his hand from his pocket, shrugged his shoulders, and deliberately turned his back on me and walked toward the door.
His consummate coolness placed me in a dilemma. Shoot him down in cold blood I could not.