The mask turned the heavy bar, and, taking a key from his pocket, he drew back the lock.
“Hagn, how did you get away?”
The door was pushed open with such violence that he was flung back against the wall, and Ella uttered a scream of joy.
Standing in the doorway was a bareheaded man, in a shining trench-coat.
It was Joshua Broad.
“Keep back!”
He did not look round, but she knew the words were addressed to her and stood stock-still. Both Broad’s hands were in the deep pockets of his coat; his eyes did not leave the mask.
“Harry,” he said softly, “you know what I want.”
“Take yours!” screeched the Frog. His hand moved so quickly that the girl could not follow it.
Two shots rang out together and the Frog staggered back against the wall. His foot was within a few inches of the glass cylinders, and he raised it. Again Broad fired, and the Frog fell backward, his head in the fireplace. He came struggling to his feet, and then, with a little choking sob, fell backward, his arms outstretched.