obtaining what he wanted.

Daubrecq gave a chuckle:

"So that's it... I thought something was up... Ah, the telephone-trick:
a little out of date, sir! I had not gone half-way when I turned back."

He pushed Lupin to the front of the box and, sitting down beside the
lady, said:

"And, now my lord, who are we? A servant at the police-office, probably?
There's a professional look about that mug of yours."

He stared hard at Lupin, who did not move a muscle, and tried to put
a name to the face, but failed to recognize the man whom he had called
Polonius.

Lupin, without taking his eyes from Daubrecq either, reflected. He would
not for anything in the world have thrown up the game at that point or
neglected this favourable opportunity of coming to an understanding with
his mortal enemy.

The woman sat in her corner, motionless, and watched them both.

Lupin said:

"Let us go outside, sir. That will make our interview easier."

"No, my lord, here," grinned the deputy. "It will take place here,
presently, during the entr'acte. Then we shall not be disturbing
anybody."

"But..."

"Save your breath, my man; you sha'n't budge."

And he took Lupin by the coat-collar, with the obvious intention of not
letting go of him before the interval.

A rash move! Was it likely that Lupin would consent to remain in such an
attitude, especially before a woman, a woman to whom he had offered his
alliance, a woman--and he now thought of it for the first time--who was
distinctly good-looking and whose grave beauty attracted him. His whole
pride as a man rose at the thought.

However, he said nothing. He accepted the heavy weight of the hand on
his shoulder and even sat bent in two, as though beaten, powerless,
almost frightened.

"Eh, clever!" said the deputy, scoffingly. "We don't seem to be
swaggering quite so much."

The stage was full of actors who were arguing and making a noise.

Daubrecq had loosened his grasp slightly and Lupin felt that the moment
had come. With the edge of his hand, he gave him a violent blow in the
hollow of the arm, as he might have done with a hatchet.

The pain took Daubrecq off his guard. Lupin now released himself
entirely and sprang at the other to clutch him by the throat. But
Daubrecq had at once put himself on the defensive and stepped back and
their four hands seized one another.

They gripped with superhuman energy, the whole force of the two
adversaries concentrating in those h