ands. Daubrecq's were of monstrous
size; and Lupin, caught in that iron vise, felt as though he were
fighting not with a man, but with some terrible beast, a huge gorilla.

They held each other against the door, bending low, like a pair of
wrestlers groping and trying to lay hold of each other. Their bones
creaked. Whichever gave way first was bound to be caught by the throat
and strangled. And all this happened amid a sudden silence, for the
actors on the stage were now listening to one of their number, who was
speaking in a low voice.

The woman stood back flat against the partition, looking at them in
terror. Had she taken sides with either of them, with a single movement,
the victory would at once have been decided in that one's favour. But
which of them should she assist? What could Lupin represent in her eyes?
A friend? An enemy?

She briskly made for the front of the box, forced back the screen and,
leaning forward, seemed to give a signal. Then she returned and tried to
slip to the door.

Lupin, as though wishing to help her, said:

"Why don't you move the chair?"

He was speaking of a heavy chair which had fallen down between him and
Daubrecq and across which they were struggling.

The woman stooped and pulled away the chair. That was what Lupin was
waiting for. Once rid of the obstacle, he caught Daubrecq a smart kick
on the shin with the tip of his patent-leather boot. The result was the
same as with the blow which he had given him on the arm. The pain
caused a second's apprehension and distraction, of which he at once took
advantage to beat down Daubrecq's outstretched hands and to dig his ten
fingers into his adversary's throat and neck.

Daubrecq struggled. Daubrecq tried to pull away the hands that were
throttling him; but he was beginning to choke and felt his strength
decreasing.

"Aha, you old monkey!" growled Lupin, forcing him to the floor. "Why
don't you shout for help? How frightened you must be of a scandal!"

At the sound of the fall there came a knocking at the partition, on the
other side.

"Knock away, knock away," said Lupin, under his breath. "The play is on
the stage. This is my business and, until I've mastered this gorilla..."

It did not take him long. The deputy was choking. Lupin stunned him with
a blow on the jaw; and all that remained for him to do was to take the
woman away and make his escape with her before the alarm was given.

But, when he turned round, he saw th