CHAPTER XIX
THE HIDDEN CHAMBER
Simon turned just in time. The wheel went crashing to the floor and bounded and rebounded out of the room and along the little hall. Philippe jumped in terror from the place where he crouched.
And then the last strand broke, and I was free to slip the cords from my limbs.
"You old fool!" screamed Leroux, catching Duchaine by the wrists. But Charles Duchaine possessed the strength of a madman. He grasped Leroux round the waist and clung to him, and would not be shaken off.
"Kill him!" he screamed. "He is a spy! He has come to betray me to the government!"
What followed was the work of a moment. I saw Jacqueline pull down both broadswords from the wall. She flung one down beside me just as I was staggering to my feet.
Leroux shook off the old man at last. He turned on me. I swung the sword aloft and brought it down upon his skull.
Heaven knows I struck to kill; but my wrist was feeble from the ropes, and the blade fell flat. It drew no blood, but Leroux dropped like a stricken ox upon the floor.