Turning to his fellow-conspirators, Trokoff demanded:
"My hand should strike the fatal blow! I brought him here! The right is mine!"
Trokoff continued, in a quieter tone:
"The police may have been warned of our gathering here! We are spied on, tracked! You know it well!... Suppose we stay to watch the dying agony of this wretch! Suppose the police descend upon us! They will snatch from us our just revenge and will arrest us all!... Hand over this monster to me and leave the place. If the police are watching you they will see you go!... Leave Fantômas to me, that, at my leisure, I may see him die as he deserves to die!"
Fandor shuddered: so a lingering agony, a fearful death was to be faced!... Yes, Fantômas meant to torture him, extract from his victim some appeal for pity, for the mercy this monster in human form could never know nor exercise! Yes, Fantômas had changed his plans: rid of the Nihilists, he could have it all his own way with Fandor!
The disciples, as with one voice, cried:
"We are thy faithful followers. What thou ordainest that we do!"...
Trokoff turned to Fandor. He shook a threatening fist in Fandor's face.
"Collect yourself.... You are to pay the price of expiation soon!"
This menace hurled at his victim, Trokoff drew his fanatical partisans together, made them quit the studio, and vanished with them....