right hand. Darting it out, I snatched at the letter. Rupert,
alarmed for his treasure, sprang back and off me. I also sprang
up on my feet, hurling away the fellow who had gripped my other
hand. For a moment I stood facing Rupert; then I darted on him.
He was too quick for me; he dodged behind the man with the
lantern and. hurled the fellow forward against me. The lantern
fell on the ground.

"Give me your stick!" I heard Rupert say. "Where is it? That's
right!"

Then came Rischenheim's voice again, imploring and timid:

"Rupert, you promised not to kill him."

The only answer was a short, fierce laugh. I hurled away the man
who had been thrust into my arms and sprang forward. I saw Rupert
of Hentzau; his hand was raised above his head and held a stout
club. I do not know what followed; there came--all in a confused
blur of instant sequence--an oath from Rupert, a rush from me, a
scuffle, as though some one sought to hold him back; then he was
on me; I felt a great thud on my forehead, and I felt nothing
more. Again I was on my back, with a terrible pain in my head,
and a dull, dreamy consciousness of a knot of men standing over
me, talking eagerly to one another.

I could not hear what they were saying; I had no great desire to
hear. I fancied, somehow, that they were talking about me; they
looked at me and moved their hands towards me now and again. I
heard Rupert's laugh, and saw his club poised over me; then