Why had Marcus broken his pipe?
What did it all mean, anyway?
As he rose the dentist made a vague motion with his right hand.

Did Marcus misinterpret it as a gesture of menace?
He sprang back as though avoiding a blow.

All at once there was a cry.

Marcus had made a quick, peculiar motion, swinging his arm upward with a wide and sweeping gesture; his jack-knife lay open in his palm; it shot forward as he flung it, glinted sharply by McTeague's head, and struck quivering into the wall behind.
A sudden chill ran through the room; the others stood transfixed, as at the swift passage of some cold and deadly wind.

Death had stooped there for an instant, had stooped and past, leaving a trail of terror and confusion.