The man glided into the apartment. But at the first step something in the position of the cupboard and chair made him uneasy. He ventured no further, but put the candle on the floor and stooped to peer under the chair; but, as he stooped, an iron hand grasped his shoulder, and a dagger was driven so fiercely through his neck that the point came out at his gullet. There was a terrible hiccough, but no cry; and half a dozen silent strokes followed in swift succession, each a death-blow, and the assassin was laid noiselessly on the floor. Denys closed the door; bolted it gently; drew the post to, and even while he was doing it whispered Gerard to bring a chair. It was done. "Help me set him up." "Dead?" "Parbleu." "What for?" "Frighten them! Gain time." Even while saying this, Denys had whipped a piece of string round the dead man's neck, and tied him to the chair, and there the ghastly figure sat fronting the door. * * * * * "Denys, I can do better. Saints forgive me!" "What? Be quick then, we have not many moments." And Denys got his cross-bow ready, and, tearing off his straw mattress, reared it before him and prepared to shoot the moment the door should open, for he had no hope any more would come singly, when they found the first did not return. While thus employed, Gerard was busy about the seated corpse, and, to his amazement, Denys saw a luminous glow spreading rapidly over the white face. Gerard blew out the candle. And on this the corpse's face shone still more like a glowworm's head. Denys shook in his shoes, and his teeth chattered. "What in Heaven's name is this?" he whispered. "Hush! 'tis but phosphorus. But 'twill serve." "Away! they will surprise thee." In fact uneasy mutterings were heard below, and at last a deep voice said, "What makes him so long? is the drôle rifling them?" It was their comrade they suspected then, not the enemy. Soon a step came softly but rapidly up the stairs: the door was gently tried. When this resisted, which was clearly not expected, the sham post was very cautiously moved, and an eye no doubt peeped through the aperture: for there was a howl of dismay, and the man was heard to stumble back and burst into the kitchen, where a babel of voices rose directly on his return. Gerard ran to the dead thief and began to work on him again. "Back, madman!" whispered Denys. "Nay, nay. I know these ignorant brutes. They will not venture here awhile. I can make him ten times more fearful." "At least close that opening! Let them not see you at your devilish work."