He was turning away when the Frenchman rushed after him, and stood on the pavement before him.
"Is this your final decision?" he asked fiercely, as he barred Boyne's way.
"Yes. You've come here to blackmail me," replied Boyne; "but you'll not get a sou out of me. Why should I pay you anything? I don't know you! I've never seen you before in my life!"
"But you will be very pleased to settle," snarled the fellow in English.
"I shan't, and if you are not very careful I'll give you in charge of the police for attempted blackmail."
"You swine!" cried Galtier between his teeth.
"The same to you, my dear friend—and a size larger; a bigger breed!" laughed Boyne defiantly.
Both the man and the girl were silent for a few moments, when the latter suddenly broke out into a torrent of abuse and vituperation.
Her companion tried to calm her, but in French she cried loudly:
"These people are assassins! I know what I overheard on the night when poor Monsieur Martin died. They killed him! And he was always very good to me—poor M'sieur! Madame is a fiend!" she went on. "I do not want her dirty money. I want to see her pay the penalty which all those who murder should pay!"