If the man had scruples, Boris had none. His revolver spoke quickly, and Baxter, with a little cough, fell forward on his face.
Turning from his butcher's work, Boris whipped round to meet the terror-stricken eyes of Mademoiselle Vseslavitch.
"It is not my fault," he said, "that you have been compelled to look on this."
Then his voice rang out clear and hard.
"Gentlemen," he cried, "I have no desire to create further disturbance. If you will listen to me all will be well."
Turning for a second to Peter, he said, "Get back to the corner of the room."
Peter had no other course but to obey.
Boris next proceeded to deal with the others.
"All of you," he said in a tone of easy command, "all of you get back into the corner, except Mademoiselle."
He watched the retreat through his mask, and when all had crowded together at the end of the room he gave them further orders.