Kill the mongrel now, and you're done with him forever.
He squeezed the trigger hard. The hammer fell, and the pistol boomed and blossomed red fire and white smoke.
The pistol and the rifle pointed at Raoul both went off, hurling a blinding bitter cloud back into his face.
He stood unhurt.
Elysée and Frank had fired, but by pushing unexpectedly between them Auguste had spoiled their aim.
The smoke cleared. Raoul saw a black spot on the left side of Auguste's white shirt. In an instant it was a spreading scarlet stain.
Auguste's eyes were shut. He fell back against Nicole, his knees buckled and he sagged to the ground. Nicole, her skirts billowing, threw her arms around Auguste and eased him down.
Raoul felt a surge of triumph.
At last! I killed the sonofabitch!
But below the triumph, like chill black water under thin ice, lay fear of what might happen now. His knees trembled.