"The old one!" echoed Vard. "But Kasia destroyed it!"
"It was not destroyed. I will explain. Are you quite ready? Then pass out before me and await me in the outer room."
Still staring, Vard opened the door. Then he sprang to the table with a glad cry, and caught up the box which stood there.
"It is complete again!" he cried. "It is—"
With a hoarse shout, Pachmann leaped at Crochard's throat. But, in midair, a spatter of liquid broke against his face, and his body hurtled onward to the floor.
And then, from the floor below, came an answering shout, a shot, the clatter of heavy feet....
With shining eyes, Crochard dropped on one knee beside his adversary, and bent for a moment above the body. Then he sprang to his feet and switched off the light.
"Stand here!" he said, snatched the inventor to one side, and stood facing the outer door.
But it did not open. No further sound reached them.
"Cowards!" muttered Crochard. "They wait in ambush! Well, let us see," and, stealing to the door, he opened it softly, softly, bracing his knee against it.