I sprang at Quint, seized him,
and shouted to Jones to tie his hands behind him with the blood-soaked
handkerchief which lay on the floor.
At first, while Jones and I were engaged in the operation of securing
the wretched man, Quint looked at us both as though surprised; then he
grew angry and asked us what the devil we were about.
"Those who shed blood must answer for it!" I said solemnly.
"What? What's the matter with you?" he demanded in a rage. "Shed blood?
What if I did? What's that to you? Untie this handkerchief, you
unmentionable idiot!"
I looked at Jones:
"His mind totters," I said hoarsely.
"What's that!" cried Quint, struggling to get off the chair whither I had
pushed him: but with my handkerchief we tied his ankles to the rung of
the chair, heedless of his attempts to kick us, and sprang back out of
range.
"Now," I said, "what have you done with the poor victim of your fury?
Where is he? Where is all that remains of Professor Boomly?"
"Boomly? I don't know where he is. How the devil should I know?"
"Don't lie," I said solemnly.
"Lie! See here, Smith, when I get out of this chair I'll settle you,
too--"
"Quint! There is another and more terrible chair which awaits such
criminals as you!"
"You old fluff!" he shouted.
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