But just when I was in the very act of making my effort another interruption came from without. There was a second knocking at the door, this time hurried and agitated, and a voice called, urgently and vehemently,
"Colonel Livenza, Colonel Livenza! I must see you at once."
It was a woman's voice, and the three men were obviously disturbed at it.
"Quick, you two. Take him into the next room," said Livenza, in a whisper.
Corpola and Valera seized me, and each menacing me with his revolver and pressing the barrel close against my head, led me into the dark room adjoining, Livenza opening the door and closing it again the instant we had passed.
"A single sound will cost you your life," whispered Corpola, fiercely into my ear, giving an additional pressure of the pistol-barrel by way of emphasis.
But he did not succeed in scaring me to the extent he hoped. The circumstances were now as much in my favour as I could expect to have them. It was not a pleasant experience to stand between two desperate fanatics in a dark room with their pistols pressed close to my head; but it was obvious that I had only to jerk my head out of the touch of the pistols to make it exceedingly difficult for my guards to regain their advantage.
Despite my awkward plight I was hopeful now, for both were positively trembling with excitement.
"What is the meaning of all this?" I whispered; designing merely to get them off their guard. "That was a woman's voice."
"Silence!" said Corpola, in a fierce whisper.