hed aloud.

"They don't execute Serene Highnesses," he replied; "but, at any rate,
as you are curious about my safety, I will tell you. In a few minutes
the train will run into a tunnel. There we shall shoot you.

"In half an hour's time, during which we shall have the discomfort of
regarding your two dead bodies, the train will once more enter a
tunnel, the last before we reach London, and invariably the driver
slows down in it to negotiate a very sharp curve. There we shall cast
your bodies out on to the line as soon as we are in the tunnel, and
availing ourselves of the slowing down which will occur a few minutes
later, we shall leave the train."

As he spoke, the train entered the tunnel he mentioned, and almost at
the same moment I saw a face appear at the window on the farther side
behind the Duke and his accomplice.

It was the face of Brooks--my servant!

At first he expressed great astonishment at the situation as he looked
through the window, then he very clearly frowned to me to keep silence.

Covered by the rattling of the train in the tunnel he began very
carefully to open the door.

"The minutes are passing, gentlemen," remarked the Duke, in a mocking
tone. "I must beg of you to make up your minds."

He clicked his revolver lock as a gentle reminder; but as he glanced at
us in triumph, Brooks crept into the carriage behind him, and in a
flash, with a great spring, his two strong hands held down those of our
assailants which held their pistols. It was a splendid act of judgment.

In a moment I sprang forward too, to aid him, and then began a fearful
struggle, in which Don Juan could take but little part. The great
endeavour of Brooks and myself was to prevent the men using their
revolvers; with all our strength we held down their hands and rendered
them powerless.

When it appeared to me we were getting the mastery of them, I heard the
Duke gasp out some guttural remarks in German to his companion.

Then suddenly the latter released his hold of the pistol, leaving it in
our hands, but his freed hand went to his breast and reappeared with a
long knife in it.

I did not actually see the blow, but I heard Brooks cry out, and I knew
that the man had struck him.

But meanwhile Don Juan had picked up the revolver and pointed it
towards the two villains.

"Fly, Duke," he cried, "for the honour of your house, or I will kill
you."

With a curse the Duke let go his revolver and cried out in G