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。
