Karen came and took his hand in hers. Then a slight groan escaped him and he opened his eyes.
"Are you badly hurt?" asked Guild.
"I'm a little sick, that's all. I think when I fell some ribs broke—or something——"
"I meant fairly by you," said Guild miserably.
"You played fair. It was bad luck—bad luck—that's all." He closed his pain-sickened eyes: "God, what luck," he mumbled—"really atrocious!"
Guild, still holding his naked sword, drew his automatic with his left hand. Then he looked silently at Karen.
"Can't you leave the house by the garden?" she whispered tremulously.
"The gate is padlocked."
"Kervyn, they'll kill you if you step out of that door!"
Von Reiter, drowsy with pain, opened his eyes: