Ausable used his presence of mind and quick thinking to outwit Max without any weapon.
When Max held them at gunpoint, Ausable cleverly invented a story about a non-existent balcony outside his window. He described it convincingly, saying it belonged to the next apartment. When there was a knock at the door, Ausable pretended it was the police. Fearing arrest, Max stepped out of the window onto what he believed was the balcony — but there was no balcony. He fell to his death, while the "police" turned out to be only a waiter delivering drinks.
Source: The Midnight Visitor, Footprints without Feet
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