And on the
word he shot him through the body.
Binet went down screaming, whilst the fierce Polichinelle, fiercer
than ever in that moment of fierce reality, spoke quickly into
Andre-Louis' ear:
"Fool! So much was not necessary! Away with you now, or you'll
leave your skin here! Away with you!"
Andre-Louis thought it good advice, and took it. The gentlemen who
had followed Binet in that punitive rush upon the stage, partly
held in check by the improvised weapons of the players, partly
intimidated by the second pistol that Scaramouche presented, let
him go. He gained the wings, and here found himself faced by a
couple of sergeants of the watch, part of the police that was
already invading the theatre with a view to restoring order. The
sight of them reminded him unpleasantly of how he must stand
towards the law for this night's work, and more particularly for
that bullet lodged somewhere in Binet's obese body. He flourished
his pistol.
"Make way, or I'll burn your brains!" he threatened them, and
intimidated, themselves without firearms, they fell back and let
him pass.
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