The man was but wounded in three places and stunned.

"What must I do ?" asked Peter in a hollow voice to the royal pair above him.
Now the king, who seemed moved, was about to speak; but the queen bent forward and whispered something to him, and he remained silent.

They both were silent.

All the intent multitude was silent.

Knowing what this dreadful silence meant, Peter cast down his sword and drew his dagger, wherewith to cut the lashings of Morella's gorget and give the _coup de grace_.
Just then it was that for the first time he heard a sound, far away upon the other side of the arena, and, looking thither, saw the strangest sight that ever his eyes beheld.