"Goliath," Dorothy went on, "Goliath who never quitted him, Goliath always within reach of his hand, and whom he was holding, whom he is holding at this moment. Look at him. His five fingers are clenched round the dog's collar. Do you understand? Round its collar!"
Once more d'Estreicher had no doubt. Dorothy's declaration immediately appeared to him to meet all the circumstances of the case. Once more she threw light on the affair. Beyond that light: nothing but darkness and contradictions.
He recovered all his coolness. His will to act instantly revived; and at the same time he saw clearly all the precautions to be taken to minimize the risks of the attempt.
He drew from his pocket a thin piece of rope, with which he bound Dorothy, and a handkerchief which he tied across her mouth.
"If you've made a mistake, darling, all the worse for you. You'll pay for it."
And he added in a sarcastic tone:
"Moreover, if you haven't made a mistake, all the worse for you just the same. I'm not the man to lose my prey."
He hailed his confederates:
"Hi, boys! Is there any one on the road?"
"Not a soul!"