And, if you nevertheless refuse to become my wife, I shall leave the country. All my preparations are made."
A little later he began to laugh and, again raising his voice, said:
"Afraid of what, Florence? That I shall kill you perhaps? No, no, have no fear"
The portress had heard nothing more. But was this not enough to justify every alarm?
Don Luis caught hold of the deputy chief:
"Come along! I knew it: the man is capable of anything. It's the tiger! He means to kill her!"
He rushed outside, dragging the deputy toward the two police motors waiting five hundred yards down. Meanwhile, Mazeroux was trying to protest:
"It would be better to search the house, to pick up some clues"
"Oh," shouted Don Luis, increasing his pace, "the house and the clues will keep!… But he's gaining ground, the ruffian—and he has Florence with him—and he's going to kill her! It's a trap!… I'm sure of it"
He was shouting in the dark, dragging the two men along with irresistible force.
They neared the motors.
"Get ready!" he ordered as soon as he was in sight. "I'll drive myself."
He tried to get into the driver's seat. But Weber objected and pushed him inside, saying:
"Don't trouble—the chauffeur knows his business. He'll drive faster than you would."
Don Luis, the deputy chief, and two detectives crowded into the cab; Mazeroux took his seat beside the chauffeur.
