In a moment all three men, finding their prisoner armed, drew back. Then in an instant he had freed himself.
His back was set against the wall, and flourishing the heavy weapon he held them all at bay.
“You shan’t take me!” he shrieked in defiance. “Touch me again, any of you, and I’ll shoot you dead!” he shouted in desperation.
And by the distorted expression of his livid face they all knew he meant it.
Berton, the inspector of the Sûreté, made a sudden dash forward, in order to again secure the man so long wanted for espionage, but in less time than it takes to describe the dramatic scene he received a bullet in the shoulder.
Again Flobecq, still holding them all at bay and defying them to arrest him, fired at Waldron, once more missing him, and then firing two further shots at random, one taking effect upon the hand of the elder of the two French agents.
Then the third man, finding his two companions wounded, and himself at the mercy of the frenzied spy, raised his own revolver, took careful aim and fired in self-defence.
The shot took instant effect.
Mijoux Flobecq, the handsome adventurer, shot through the heart, fell forward, face downwards, dead.