Tarzanhadoverheardbutafewwords:"Andifshescreamsyoumaychokeheruntil——"Butthosehadbeenenoughtoarousethespiritofadventurewithinhim，andsohekeptthetwomeninsightastheywalked，brisklynow，alongthedeck。
Tothesmoking—roomhefollowedthem，buttheymerelyhaltedatthedoorwaylongenough，apparently，toassurethemselvesthatonewhosewhereaboutstheywishedtoestablishwaswithin。
Thentheyproceededdirectlytothefirst—classcabinsuponthepromenadedeck。HereTarzanfoundgreaterdifficultyinescapingdetection，buthemanagedtodososuccessfully。
Astheyhaltedbeforeoneofthepolishedhardwooddoors，Tarzanslippedintotheshadowofapassagewaynotadozenfeetfromthem。
Totheirknockawoman’svoiceaskedinFrench:"Whoisit？"
"ItisI，Olga——Nikolas，"wastheanswer，inRokoff’snowfamiliarguttural。"MayIcomein？"
"Whydoyounotceasepersecutingme，Nikolas？"camethevoiceofthewomanfrombeyondthethinpanel。
"Ihaveneverharmedyou。"
"Come，come，Olga，"urgedtheman，inpropitiarytones;
"Ibutaskahalfdozenwordswithyou。Ishallnotharmyou，norshallIenteryourcabin;butIcannotshoutmymessagethroughthedoor。"
Tarzanheardthecatchclickasitwasreleasedfromtheinside。Hesteppedoutfromhishiding—placefarenoughtoseewhattranspiredwhenthedoorwasopened，forhecouldnotbutrecallthesinisterwordshehadheardafewmomentsbeforeuponthedeck，"Andifshescreamsyoumaychokeher。"
Rokoffwasstandingdirectlyinfrontofthedoor。Paulvitchhadflattenedhimselfagainstthepaneledwallofthecorridorbeyond。Thedooropened。Rokoffhalfenteredtheroom，andstoodwithhisbackagainstthedoor，speakinginalowwhispertothewoman，whomTarzancouldnotsee。ThenTarzanheardthewoman’svoice，level，butloudenoughtodistinguishherwords。
"No，Nikolas，"shewassaying，"itisuseless。Threatenasyouwill，Ishallneveraccedetoyourdemands。Leavetheroom，please;youhavenorighthere。Youpromisednottoenter。"
"Verywell，Olga，Ishallnotenter;butbeforeIamdonewithyou，youshallwishathousandtimesthatyouhaddoneatoncethefavorIhaveasked。IntheendIshallwinanyway，soyoumightaswellsavetroubleandtimeforme，anddisgraceforyourselfandyour——"
"Never，Nikolas！"interruptedthewoman，andthenTarzansawRokoffturnandnodtoPaulvitch，whosprangquicklytowardthedoorwayofthecabin，rushinginpastRokoff，whoheldthedooropenforhim。Thenthelattersteppedquicklyout。
Thedoorclosed。TarzanheardtheclickofthelockasPaulvitchturneditfromtheinside。Rokoffremainedstandingbeforethedoor，withheadbent，asthoughtocatchthewordsofthetwowithin。Anastysmilecurledhisbeardedlip。
Tarzancouldhearthewoman’svoicecommandingthefellowtoleavehercabin。"Ishallsendformyhusband，"shecried。
"Hewillshowyounomercy。"
Paulvitch’ssneeringlaughcamethroughthepolishedpanels。
"Thepurserwillfetchyourhusband，madame，"saidtheman。
"Infact，thatofficerhasalreadybeennotifiedthatyouareentertainingamanotherthanyourhusbandbehindthelockeddoorofyourcabin。"
"Bah！"criedthewoman。"Myhusbandwillknow！"
"Mostassuredlyyourhusbandwillknow，butthepurserwillnot;norwillthenewspapermenwhoshallinsomemysteriouswayhearofitonourlanding。Buttheywillthinkitafinestory，andsowillallyourfriendswhentheyreadofitatbreakfaston——letmesee，thisisTuesday——yes，whentheyreadofitatbreakfastnextFridaymorning。
NorwillitdetractfromtheinteresttheywillallfeelwhentheylearnthatthemanwhommadameentertainedisaRussianservant——herbrother’svalet，tobequiteexact。"
"AlexisPaulvitch，"camethewoman’svoice，coldandfearless，"youareacoward，andwhenIwhisperacertainnameinyourearyouwillthinkbetterofyourdemandsuponmeandyourthreatsagainstme，andthenyouwillleavemycabinquickly，nordoIthinkthateveragainwillyou，atleast，annoyme，"andtherecameamoment’ssilenceinwhichTarzancouldimaginethewomanleaningtowardthescoundrelandwhisperingthethingshehadhintedatintohisear。Onlyamomentofsilence，andthenastartledoathfromtheman——thescufflingoffeet——awoman’sscream——
andsilence。
Butscarcelyhadthecryceasedbeforetheape—manhadleapedfromhishiding—place。Rokoffstartedtorun，butTarzangraspedhimbythecollaranddraggedhimback。
Neitherspoke，forbothfeltinstinctivelythatmurderwasbeingdoneinthatroom，andTarzanwasconfidentthatRokoffhadhadnointentionthathisconfederateshouldgothatfar——hefeltthattheman’saimsweredeeperthanthat——deeperandevenmoresinisterthanbrutal，cold—bloodedmurder。
Withouthesitatingtoquestionthosewithin，theape—manthrewhisgiantshoulderagainstthefrailpanel，andinashowerofsplinteredwoodheenteredthecabin，draggingRokoffafterhim。Beforehim，onacouch，thewomanlay，andontopofherwasPaulvitch，hisfingersgrippingthefairthroat，whilehisvictim’shandsbeatfutilelyathisface，tearingdesperatelyatthecruelfingersthatwereforcingthelifefromher。
ThenoiseofhisentrancebroughtPaulvitchtohisfeet，wherehestoodgloweringmenacinglyatTarzan。Thegirlrosefalteringlytoasittingpostureuponthecouch。
Onehandwasatherthroat，andherbreathcameinlittlegasps。
Althoughdisheveledandverypale，Tarzanrecognizedherastheyoungwomanwhomhehadcaughtstaringathimondeckearlierintheday。
"Whatisthemeaningofthis？"saidTarzan，turningtoRokoff，whomheintuitivelysingledoutastheinstigatoroftheoutrage。
Themanremainedsilent，scowling。"Touchthebutton，please，"
continuedtheape—man;"wewillhaveoneoftheship’sofficershere——thisaffairhasgonequitefarenough。"
"No，no，"criedthegirl，comingsuddenlytoherfeet。
"Pleasedonotdothat。Iamsurethattherewasnorealintentiontoharmme。Iangeredthisperson，andhelostcontrolofhimself，thatisall。Iwouldnotcaretohavethemattergofurther，please，monsieur，"andtherewassuchanoteofpleadinginhervoicethatTarzancouldnotpressthematter，thoughhisbetterjudgmentwarnedhimthattherewassomethingafoothereofwhichtheproperauthoritiesshouldbemadecognizant。
"Youwishmetodonothing，then，inthematter？"heasked。
"Nothing，please，"shereplied。
"Youarecontentthatthesetwoscoundrelsshouldcontinuepersecutingyou？"
Shedidnotseemtoknowwhatanswertomake，andlookedverytroubledandunhappy。TarzansawamaliciousgrinoftriumphcurlRokoff’slip。Thegirlevidentlywasinfearofthesetwo——shedarednotexpressherrealdesiresbeforethem。
"Then，"saidTarzan，"Ishallactonmyownresponsibility。
Toyou，"hecontinued，turningtoRokoff，"andthisincludesyouraccomplice，ImaysaythatfromnowontotheendofthevoyageIshalltakeituponmyselftokeepaneyeonyou，andshouldtherechancetocometomynoticeanyactofeitheroneofyouthatmightevenremotelyannoythisyoungwomanyoushallbecalledtoaccountforitdirectlytome，norshallthecallingortheaccountingbepleasantexperiencesforeitherofyou。
"Nowgetoutofhere，"andhegrabbedRokoffandPaulvitcheachbythescruffoftheneckandthrustthemforciblythroughthedoorway，givingeachanaddedimpetusdownthecorridorwiththetoeofhisboot。Thenheturnedbacktothestateroomandthegirl。Shewaslookingathiminwide—eyedastonishment。
"Andyou，madame，willconferagreatfavoruponmeifyouwillbutletmeknowifeitherofthoserascalstroublesyoufurther。"
"Ah，monsieur，"sheanswered，"Ihopethatyouwillnotsufferforthekinddeedyouattempted。Youhavemadeaverywickedandresourcefulenemy，whowillstopatnothingtosatisfyhishatred。Youmustbeverycarefulindeed，Monsieur——"
"Pardonme，madame，mynameisTarzan。"
"MonsieurTarzan。AndbecauseIwouldnotconsenttonotifytheofficers，donotthinkthatIamnotsincerelygratefultoyouforthebraveandchivalrousprotectionyourenderedme。Goodnight，MonsieurTarzan。IshallneverforgetthedebtIoweyou，"and，withamostwinsomesmilethatdisplayedarowofperfectteeth，thegirlcurtsiedtoTarzan，whobadehergoodnightandmadehiswayondeck。
Itpuzzledthemanconsiderablythatthereshouldbetwoonboard——thisgirlandCountdeCoude——whosufferedindignitiesatthehandsofRokoffandhiscompanion，andyetwouldnotpermittheoffenderstobebroughttojustice。
Beforeheturnedinthatnighthisthoughtsrevertedmanytimestothebeautifulyoungwomanintotheevidentlytangledwebofwhoselifefatehadsostrangelyintroducedhim。
Itoccurredtohimthathehadnotlearnedhername。
Thatshewasmarriedhadbeenevidencedbythenarrowgoldbandthatencircledthethirdfingerofherlefthand。
Involuntarilyhewonderedwhotheluckymanmightbe。
Tarzansawnothingfurtherofanyoftheactorsinthelittledramathathehadcaughtafleetingglimpseofuntillateintheafternoonofthelastdayofthevoyage。Thenhecamesuddenlyfacetofacewiththeyoungwomanasthetwoapproachedtheirdeckchairsfromoppositedirections。
Shegreetedhimwithapleasantsmile，speakingalmostimmediatelyoftheaffairhehadwitnessedinhercabintwonightsbefore。ItwasasthoughshehadbeenperturbedbyaconvictionthathemighthaveconstruedheracquaintancewithsuchmenasRokoffandPaulvitchasapersonalreflectionuponherself。
"Itrustmonsieurhasnotjudgedme，"shesaid，"bytheunfortunateoccurrenceofTuesdayevening。Ihavesufferedmuchonaccountofit——thisisthefirsttimethatI
haveventuredfrommycabinsince;Ihavebeenashamed，"
sheconcludedsimply。
"Onedoesnotjudgethegazellebythelionsthatattackit，"repliedTarzan。"Ihadseenthosetwoworkbefore——inthesmoking—roomthedaypriortotheirattackonyou，ifI
recollectitcorrectly，andso，knowingtheirmethods，Iamconvincedthattheirenmityisasufficientguaranteeoftheintegrityofitsobject。Mensuchastheymustcleaveonlytothevile，hatingallthatisnoblestandbest。"
"Itisverykindofyoutoputitthatway，"shereplied，smiling。"Ihavealreadyheardofthematterofthecardgame。Myhusbandtoldmetheentirestory。HespokeespeciallyofthestrengthandbraveryofMonsieurTarzan，towhomhefeelsthatheowesanimmensedebtofgratitude。"
"Yourhusband？"repeatedTarzanquestioningly。
"Yes。IamtheCountessdeCoude。"
"Iamalreadyamplyrepaid，madame，inknowingthatI
haverenderedaservicetothewifeoftheCountdeCoude。"
"Alas，monsieur，IalreadyamsogreatlyindebtedtoyouthatImayneverhopetosettlemyownaccount，sopraydonotaddfurthertomyobligations，"andshesmiledsosweetlyuponhimthatTarzanfeltthatamanmighteasilyattemptmuchgreaterthingsthanhehadaccomplished，solelyforthepleasureofreceivingthebenedictionofthatsmile。
Hedidnotseeheragainthatday，andintherushoflandingonthefollowingmorninghemissedherentirely，buttherehadbeensomethingintheexpressionofhereyesastheypartedondeckthepreviousdaythathauntedhim。
Ithadbeenalmostwistfulastheyhadspokenofthestrangenessoftheswiftfriendshipsofanoceancrossing，andoftheequaleasewithwhichtheyarebrokenforever。
Tarzanwonderedifheshouldeverseeheragain。
Chapter3
WhatHappenedintheRueMauleOnhisarrivalinParis，Tarzanhadgonedirectlytotheapartmentsofhisoldfriend，D’Arnot，wherethenavallieutenanthadscoredhimroundlyforhisdecisiontorenouncethetitleandestatesthatwererightlyhisfromhisfather，JohnClayton，thelateLordGreystoke。
"Youmustbemad，myfriend，"saidD’Arnot，"thuslightlytogiveupnotalonewealthandposition，butanopportunitytoprovebeyonddoubttoalltheworldthatinyourveinsflowsthenoblebloodoftwoofEngland’smosthonoredhouses——insteadofthebloodofasavageshe—ape。Itisincrediblethattheycouldhavebelievedyou——MissPorterleastofall。
"Why，Ineverdidbelieveit，evenbackinthewildsofyourAfricanjungle，whenyoutoretherawmeatofyourkillswithmightyjaws，likesomewildbeast，andwipedyourgreasyhandsuponyourthighs。Eventhen，beforetherewastheslightestprooftothecontrary，IknewthatyouweremistakeninthebeliefthatKalawasyourmother。
"Andnow，withyourfather’sdiaryoftheterriblelifeledbyhimandyourmotheronthatwildAfricanshore;
withtheaccountofyourbirth，and，finalandmostconvincingproofofall，yourownbabyfingerprintsuponthepagesofit，itseemsincredibletomethatyouarewillingtoremainanameless，pennilessvagabond。"
"IdonotneedanybetternamethanTarzan，"repliedtheape—man;"andasforremainingapennilessvagabond，I
havenointentionofsodoing。Infact，thenext，andletushopethelast，burdenthatIshallbeforcedtoputuponyourunselfishfriendshipwillbethefindingofemploymentforme。"
"Pooh，pooh！"scoffedD’Arnot。"YouknowthatIdidnotmeanthat。HaveInottoldyouadozentimesthatIhaveenoughfortwentymen，andthathalfofwhatIhaveisyours？AndifIgaveitalltoyou，woulditrepresenteventhetenthpartofthevalueIplaceuponyourfriendship，myTarzan？WoulditrepaytheservicesyoudidmeinAfrica？
Idonotforget，myfriend，thatbutforyouandyourwondrousbraveryIhaddiedatthestakeinthevillageofMbonga’scannibals。NordoIforgetthattoyourself—
sacrificingdevotionIowethefactthatIrecoveredfromtheterriblewoundsIreceivedattheirhands——Idiscoveredlatersomethingofwhatitmeanttoyoutoremainwithmeintheamphitheaterofapeswhileyourheartwasurgingyouontothecoast。
"Whenwefinallycamethere，andfoundthatMissPorterandherpartyhadleft，Icommencedtorealizesomethingofwhatyouhaddoneforanutterstranger。NoramItryingtorepayyouwithmoney，Tarzan。Itisthatjustatpresentyouneedmoney;wereitsacrificethatImightofferyouitwerethesame——myfriendshipmustalwaysbeyours，becauseourtastesaresimilar，andIadmireyou。ThatIcannotcommand，butthemoneyIcanandshall。"
"Well，"laughedTarzan，"weshallnotquarreloverthemoney。
Imustlive，andsoImusthaveit;butIshallbemorecontentedwithsomethingtodo。Youcannotshowmeyourfriendshipinamoreconvincingmannerthantofindemploymentforme——Ishalldieofinactivityinashortwhile。
Asformybirthright——itisingoodhands。Claytonisnotguiltyofrobbingmeofit。HetrulybelievesthatheistherealLordGreystoke，andthechancesarethathewillmakeabetterEnglishlordthanamanwhowasbornandraisedinanAfricanjungle。YouknowthatIambuthalfcivilizedevennow。Letmeseeredinangerbutforamoment，andalltheinstinctsofthesavagebeastthatIreallyam，submergewhatlittleIpossessofthemilderwaysofcultureandrefinement。
"Andthenagain，hadIdeclaredmyselfIshouldhaverobbedthewomanIloveofthewealthandpositionthathermarriagetoClaytonwillnowinsuretoher。Icouldnothavedonethat——couldI，Paul？
"Noristhematterofbirthofgreatimportancetome，"
hewenton，withoutwaitingforareply。"RaisedasIhavebeen，Iseenoworthinmanorbeastthatisnottheirsbyvirtueoftheirownmentalorphysicalprowess。AndsoI
amashappytothinkofKalaasmymotherasIwouldbetotrytopicturethepoor，unhappylittleEnglishgirlwhopassedawayayearaftersheboreme。Kalawasalwayskindtomeinherfierceandsavageway。Imusthavenursedatherhairybreastfromthetimethatmyownmotherdied。
Shefoughtformeagainstthewilddenizensoftheforest，andagainstthesavagemembersofourtribe，withtheferocityofrealmotherlove。
"AndI，onmypart，lovedher，Paul。IdidnotrealizehowmuchuntilafterthecruelspearandthepoisonedarrowofMbonga’sblackwarriorhadstolenherawayfromme。I
wasstillachildwhenthatoccurred，andIthrewmyselfuponherdeadbodyandweptoutmyanguishasachildmightforhisownmother。Toyou，myfriend，shewouldhaveappearedahideousanduglycreature，buttomeshewasbeautiful——sogloriouslydoeslovetransfigureitsobject。
AndsoIamperfectlycontenttoremainforeverthesonofKala，theshe—ape。"
"Idonotadmireyouthelessforyourloyalty，"saidD’Arnot，"butthetimewillcomewhenyouwillbegladtoclaimyourown。RememberwhatIsay，andletushopethatitwillbeaseasythenasitisnow。YoumustbearinmindthatProfessorPorterandMr。Philanderaretheonlypeopleintheworldwhocanswearthatthelittleskeletonfoundinthecabinwiththoseofyourfatherandmotherwasthatofaninfantanthropoidape，andnottheoffspringofLordandLadyGreystoke。Thatevidenceismostimportant。
Theyarebotholdmen。Theymaynotlivemanyyearslonger。
Andthen，diditnotoccurtoyouthatonceMissPorterknewthetruthshewouldbreakherengagementwithClayton？
Youmighteasilyhaveyourtitle，yourestates，andthewomanyoulove，Tarzan。Hadyounotthoughtofthat？"
Tarzanshookhishead。"Youdonotknowher，"hesaid。
"NothingcouldbindherclosertoherbargainthansomemisfortunetoClayton。SheisfromanoldsouthernfamilyinAmerica，andsouthernerspridethemselvesupontheirloyalty。"
TarzanspentthetwofollowingweeksrenewinghisformerbriefacquaintancewithParis。Inthedaytimehehauntedthelibrariesandpicturegalleries。Hehadbecomeanomnivorousreader，andtheworldofpossibilitiesthatwereopenedtohiminthisseatofcultureandlearningfairlyappalledhimwhenhecontemplatedtheveryinfinitesimalcrumbofthesumtotalofhumanknowledgethatasingleindividualmighthopetoacquireevenafteralifetimeofstudyandresearch;buthelearnedwhathecouldbyday，andthrewhimselfintoasearchforrelaxationandamusementatnight。NordidhefindParisawhitlessfertilefieldforhisnocturnalavocation。
Ifhesmokedtoomanycigarettesanddranktoomuchabsinthitwasbecausehetookcivilizationashefoundit，anddidthethingsthathefoundhiscivilizedbrothersdoing。Thelifewasanewandalluringone，andinadditionhehadasorrowinhisbreastandagreatlongingwhichheknewcouldneverbefulfilled，andsohesoughtinstudyandindissipation——thetwoextremes——toforgetthepastandinhibitcontemplationofthefuture。
Hewassittinginamusichalloneevening，sippinghisabsinthandadmiringtheartofacertainfamousRussiandancer，whenhecaughtapassingglimpseofapairofevilblackeyesuponhim。ThemanturnedandwaslostinthecrowdattheexitbeforeTarzancouldcatchagoodlookathim，buthewasconfidentthathehadseenthoseeyesbeforeandthattheyhadbeenfastenedonhimthiseveningthroughnopassingaccident。Hehadhadtheuncannyfeelingforsometimethathewasbeingwatched，anditwasinresponsetothisanimalinstinctthatwasstrongwithinhimthathehadturnedsuddenlyandsurprisedtheeyesintheveryactofwatchinghim。
Beforeheleftthemusichallthematterhadbeenforgotten，nordidhenoticetheswarthyindividualwhosteppeddeeperintotheshadowsofanoppositedoorwayasTarzanemergedfromthebrilliantlylightedamusementhall。
HadTarzanbutknownit，hehadbeenfollowedmanytimesfromthisandotherplacesofamusement，butseldomifeverhadhebeenalone。TonightD’Arnothadhadanotherengagement，andTarzanhadcomebyhimself。
AsheturnedinthedirectionhewasaccustomedtotakingfromthispartofParistohisapartments，thewatcheracrossthestreetranfromhishiding—placeandhurriedonaheadatarapidpace。
TarzanhadbeenwonttotraversetheRueMauleonhiswayhomeatnight。BecauseitwasveryquietandverydarkitremindedhimmoreofhisbelovedAfricanjunglethandidthenoisyandgarishstreetssurroundingit。
IfyouarefamiliarwithyourParisyouwillrecallthenarrow，forbiddingprecinctsoftheRueMaule。Ifyouarenot，youneedbutaskthepoliceaboutittolearnthatinallParisthereisnostreettowhichyoushouldgiveawiderberthafterdark。
OnthisnightTarzanhadproceededsometwosquaresthroughthedenseshadowsofthesqualidoldtenementswhichlinethisdismalwaywhenhewasattractedbyscreamsandcriesforhelpfromthethirdfloorofanoppositebuilding。
Thevoicewasawoman’s。BeforetheechoesofherfirstcrieshaddiedTarzanwasboundingupthestairsandthroughthedarkcorridorstoherrescue。
Attheendofthecorridoronthethirdlandingadoorstoodslightlyajar，andfromwithinTarzanheardagainthesameappealthathadluredhimfromthestreet。
Anotherinstantfoundhiminthecenterofadimly—lightedroom。
Anoillampburneduponahigh，old—fashionedmantel，castingitsdimraysoveradozenrepulsivefigures。Allbutoneweremen。Theotherwasawomanofaboutthirty。Herface，markedbylowpassionsanddissipation，mightoncehavebeenlovely。Shestoodwithonehandatherthroat，crouchingagainstthefartherwall。
"Help，monsieur，"shecriedinalowvoiceasTarzanenteredtheroom;"theywerekillingme。"
AsTarzanturnedtowardthemenabouthimhesawthecrafty，evilfacesofhabitualcriminals。Hewonderedthattheyhadmadenoefforttoescape。Amovementbehindhimcausedhimtoturn。Twothingshiseyessaw，andoneofthemcausedhimconsiderablewonderment。Amanwassneakingstealthilyfromtheroom，andinthebriefglancethatTarzanhadofhimhesawthatitwasRokoff。
Buttheotherthingthathesawwasofmoreimmediateinterest。
Itwasagreatbruteofafellowtiptoeinguponhimfrombehindwithahugebludgeoninhishand，andthen，asthemanandhisconfederatessawthathewasdiscovered，therewasaconcertedrushuponTarzanfromallsides。
Someofthemendrewknives。Otherspickedupchairs，whilethefellowwiththebludgeonraisedithighabovehisheadinamightyswingthatwouldhavecrushedTarzan’sheadhaditeverdescendeduponit。
Butthebrain，andtheagility，andthemusclesthathadcopedwiththemightystrengthandcruelcraftinessofTerkozandNumainthefastnessoftheirsavagejunglewerenottobesoeasilysubduedastheseapachesofParishadbelieved。
Selectinghismostformidableantagonist，thefellowwiththebludgeon，Tarzanchargedfulluponhim，dodgingthefallingweapon，andcatchingthemanaterrificblowonthepointofthechinthatfelledhiminhistracks。
Thenheturnedupontheothers。Thiswassport。Hewasrevelinginthejoyofbattleandthelustofblood。Asthoughithadbeenbutabrittleshell，tobreakattheleastroughusage，thethinveneerofhiscivilizationfellfromhim，andthetenburlyvillainsfoundthemselvespennedinasmallroomwithawildandsavagebeast，againstwhosesteelmusclestheirpunystrengthwaslessthanfutile。
AttheendofthecorridorwithoutstoodRokoff，waitingtheoutcomeoftheaffair。HewishedtobesurethatTarzanwasdeadbeforeheleft，butitwasnotapartofhisplantobeoneofthosewithintheroomwhenthemurderoccurred。
ThewomanstillstoodwhereshehadwhenTarzanentered，butherfacehadundergoneanumberofchangeswiththefewminuteswhichhadelapsed。FromthesemblanceofdistresswhichithadwornwhenTarzanfirstsawit，ithadchangedtooneofcraftinessashehadwheeledtomeettheattackfrombehind;butthechangeTarzanhadnotseen。
Lateranexpressionofsurpriseandthenoneofhorrorsupersededtheothers。Andwhomaywonder。Fortheimmaculategentlemanhercrieshadluredtowhatwastohavebeenhisdeathhadbeensuddenlymetamorphosedintoademonofrevenge。Insteadofsoftmusclesandaweakresistance，shewaslookinguponaveritableHerculesgonemad。
"MONDIEU！"shecried;"heisabeast！"Forthestrong，whiteteethoftheape—manhadfoundthethroatofoneofhisassailants，andTarzanfoughtashehadlearnedtofightwiththegreatbullapesofthetribeofKerchak。
Hewasinadozenplacesatonce，leapinghitherandthitherabouttheroominsinuousboundsthatremindedthewomanofapanthershehadseenatthezoo。Nowawrist—
bonesnappedinhisirongrip，nowashoulderwaswrenchedfromitssocketasheforcedavictim’sarmbackwardandupward。
Withshrieksofpainthemenescapedintothehallwayasquicklyastheycould;butevenbeforethefirstonestaggered，bleedingandbroken，fromtheroom，RokoffhadseenenoughtoconvincehimthatTarzanwouldnotbetheonetoliedeadinthathousethisnight，andsotheRussianhadhastenedtoanearbydenandtelephonedthepolicethatamanwascommittingmurderonthethirdfloorofRueMaule，27。
Whentheofficersarrivedtheyfoundthreemengroaningonthefloor，afrightenedwomanlyinguponafilthybed，herfaceburiedinherarms，andwhatappearedtobeawell—
dressedyounggentlemanstandinginthecenteroftheroomawaitingthereenforcementswhichhehadthoughtthefootstepsoftheofficershurryingupthestairwayhadannounced——buttheyweremistakeninthelast;itwasawildbeastthatlookeduponthemthroughthosenarrowedlidsandsteel—
grayeyes。WiththesmellofbloodthelastvestigeofcivilizationhaddesertedTarzan，andnowhestoodatbay，likealionsurroundedbyhunters，awaitingthenextovertact，andcrouchingtochargeitsauthor。
"Whathashappenedhere？"askedoneofthepolicemen。
Tarzanexplainedbriefly，butwhenheturnedtothewomanforconfirmationofhisstatementhewasappalledbyherreply。
"Helies！"shescreamedshrilly，addressingthepoliceman。
"HecametomyroomwhileIwasalone，andfornogoodpurpose。WhenIrepulsedhimhewouldhavekilledmehadnotmyscreamsattractedthesegentlemen，whowerepassingthehouseatthetime。Heisadevil，monsieurs;alonehehasallbutkilledtenmenwithhisbarehandsandhisteeth。"
SoshockedwasTarzanbyheringratitudethatforamomenthewasstruckdumb。Thepolicewereinclinedtobealittleskeptical，fortheyhadhadotherdealingswiththissameladyandherlovelycoterieofgentlemenfriends。
However，theywerepolicemen，notjudges，sotheydecidedtoplacealltheinmatesoftheroomunderarrest，andletanother，whosebusinessitwas，separatetheinnocentfromtheguilty。
Buttheyfoundthatitwasonethingtotellthiswell—
dressedyoungmanthathewasunderarrest，butquiteanothertoenforceit。
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