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De Heidelmann-Bruck stopped suddenly and M. Paul caught a savage gleam in his eyes; then, swiftly, the baron put the ring to his mouth, and sucking in his breath, swallowed hard. The detective sprang forward, but it was too late. "A doctor quick!" he called to the guard. "No use!" murmured the rich man, sinking forward.
Haltingly, on his cane, Coquenil made his way to an adjoining room where De Heidelmann-Bruck was waiting under guard. As he glanced at the baron, M. Paul saw that once more the man had demonstrated his extraordinary self-control, he was cold and composed as usual. "We take our medicine, eh?" said the detective admiringly. "Yes," answered the prisoner, "we take our medicine."
"I was saying," resumed the other, "that there is a bond between a detective and a criminal I suppose it gets stronger between a a great detective," he smiled, "and a great criminal." De Heidelmann-Bruck looked pleased. "You regard me as a great criminal?" Coquenil nodded gravely. "I certainly do. The greatest since Ludovico Schertzi you know he had your identical little finger." "Really!" "Yes.
"No, I'm through, I wash my hands of the case. The Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck can sleep easily as far as I am concerned." Tignol bounded to his feet and his little eyes flashed indignantly. "I don't believe it," he cried. "I won't have it. You can't tell me Paul Coquenil is afraid. Are you afraid?" "I don't think so," smiled the other. "And Paul Coquenil hasn't been bought?
No sooner had the speaker finished than the clerk of the court announced a brief recess, during which the judges withdrew for deliberation and the audience buzzed their wonder. During this interval the Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck looked frankly bored.
"Under circumstances like those when when I lost it." "How do you mean?" "I I " She turned slowly, as if drawn by some horrible fascination, and looked at De Heidelmann-Bruck. The baron's face was ghastly white, but by a supreme effort he kept an outward show of composure. "Yes?" encouraged the judge. "I was in another fire," she murmured, still staring at the baron.
Such measures Coquenil proceeded to conceive and carry out, realizing fully that, in so doing, he was taking his life in his hands. His first intuition had come true, he was facing a great criminal and must either destroy or be destroyed; it was to be a ruthless fight to a finish between Paul Coquenil and the Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck.
"I was getting my handkerchief." "Here's the handkerchief," said Tignol, holding up a pistol. At this there was fresh tumult in the audience, with men cursing and women shrieking. The judge turned gravely to De Heidelmann-Bruck. "I have a painful duty to perform, sir. Take this man out under arrest, and clear the room."
Nor did Lloyd notice the stir when one of the court attendants made way through the crush for a distinguished-looking man, evidently a person of particular importance, who was given a chair on the platform occupied by the three black-robed judges. "The Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck!" whispered eager tongues, and straightway the awe-inspiring name was passed from mouth to mouth.
Again the witness turned to Kittredge and his eyes made her brave. "My mother was burned to death in the Charity Bazaar fire," she answered in a low voice. "Were you present at the fire?" "Yes." "Were you in danger?" "Yes." "State what you remember about the fire." The girl looked down and answered rapidly: "My mother and I went to the Charity Bazaar with the Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck.
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