But I was upon Ramiro ere any could have sufficiently mastered his surprise to interfere.
By the nape of his great neck I caught him from behind, and setting my knee at his spine I wrenched him backward, and so flung him over on the floor.

Down I went with him, my hand reaching for the dagger at his jewelled girdle, and I had found and drawn it in that swift action of mine ere he had bethought him of his hands.

Up it flashed and down.

I sank it through the crimson velvet of his rich doublets straight at the spot where his heart should be--if he were so human as to have a heart.
The next instant I turned cold and sick.

My desperate effort had been all for nothing.