it was Gernois. I heard you tell Gernois so. But that would not
influence me, Rokoff. I would not care who knew that I had killed
you; the pleasure of killing you would more than compensate for any
punishment they might inflict upon me. You are the most despicable
cur of a coward, Rokoff, I have ever heard of. You should be
killed. I should love to kill you," and Tarzan approached closer
to the man.

Rokoff's nerves were keyed to the breaking point. With a shriek
he sprang toward an adjoining room, but the ape-man was upon his
back while his leap was yet but half completed. Iron fingers sought
his throat--the great coward squealed like a stuck pig, until Tarzan
had shut off his wind. Then the ape-man dragged him to his feet,
still choking him. The Russian struggled futilely--he was like a
babe in the mighty grasp of Tarzan of the Apes.

Tarzan sat him in a chair, and long before there was danger of
the man's dying he released his hold upon his throat. When the
Russian's coughing spell had abated Tarzan spoke to him again.

"I have given you a taste of the suffering of death," he said.
"But I shall not kill--this time. I am sparing you solely for the
sake of a very good woman whose great misfortune it was to have
been born of the same woman who gave birth to you. But I shall
spare you only this once on her account. Should I ever learn that
you have again annoyed her or her husband--should you ever annoy
me again--should I hear that you have returned to France or to any
French posession, I shall make it my sole business to hunt you down
and complete the choking I commenced tonight." Then he turned to
the table, on which the two pieces of paper still lay. As he picked