Rokoff. "But let's have done. Will you, or will you not? I give
you three minutes to decide. If you are not agreeable I shall send
a note to your commandant tonight that will end in the degradation
that Dreyfus suffered--the only difference being that he did not
deserve it."

For a moment Gernois sat with bowed head. At length he arose. He
drew two pieces of paper from his blouse.

"Here," he said hopelessly. "I had them ready, for I knew that
there could be but one outcome." He held them toward the Russian.

Rokoff's cruel face lighted in malignant gloating. He seized the
bits of paper.

"You have done well, Gernois," he said. "I shall not trouble you
again--unless you happen to accumulate some more money or information,"
and he grinned.

"You never shall again, you dog!" hissed Gernois. "The next time
I shall kill you. I came near doing it tonight. For an hour I
sat with these two pieces of paper on my table before me ere I came
here--beside them lay my loaded revolver. I was trying to decide
which I should bring. Next time the choice shall be easier, for
I already have decided. You had a close call tonight, Rokoff; do
not tempt fate a second time."

Then Gernois rose to leave. Tarzan barely had time to drop to the
landing and shrink back into the shadows on the far side of the
door. Even then he scarcely hoped to elude detection. The landing