“There is no need to hurt him,” he said. “Keep him here quietly for a while. I will order my men into the hall in case that motley crew below try to force an entrance. Countess, will you be showing our friend the way to the western exit? Reist, you must watch this man.”
They hurried away. Reist stood quite still for a moment. His heart was thumping against his side. He bent over Ruttens and lifted the gag from his mouth.
“What was the signal to your men that they should follow you?” he whispered.
Ruttens caught his breath for a moment.
“A—broken window.”
Reist seized a paper-weight from his table and dashed it through the nearest pane. The glass fell with a crash into the street below. There was an answering shout and a rush of feet. Domiloff rushed breathless in.
“What has happened?” he exclaimed.
“A stone thrown from the street below,” he answered. “Quick, Domiloff, and escape. They are streaming in below. Why, they are fighting already.”
Domiloff was pale with fear, but he forced a smile.