Scene.—Apartment of Dr. Gottfried Schiller in Soho Square. Same as before. It is night. Curtains are drawn. Only one electric lamp burning on table. Rest of room in shadow.

About the table seven men are seated. At back sits Dr. Schiller, with Fritz, Hoffmann, etc., on either side of him.

As the curtain rises their heads are raised and turned half aside, as if listening. There is a low rumble of guns without. Otto stands by one of the windows, holding a curtain slightly aside as if looking out through a narrow aperture. The tumbling dies away.

Fritz.
[In a tone of relief and bitter satisfaction.] That's the end of it. The damnable barrage is over. They've gone—escaped!

Otto.
[Turning back into the room.] Not before one of them has been brought down though.

Others.
[Alarmed.] Brought down?