He made a threatening gesture with the pistol at the wild-eyed Frenchman, from whose face all vestige of color had fled.
"No! No!" gasped La Croix, imploringly.
Reaching his side, the detective handcuffed him.
Just then a boy knocked at the hall door.
"Who's there?" cried the old detective.
"Boy, sir."
"What do you want?"
"Mr. Gibson wants to see you, sir."
"Send him up."
"Yes, sir."