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。