He certainly had something more in mind.
Sampson gave a slight start, barely perceptible like the twitch of an awakening tiger.

He sat there, head down, stroking his mustache.

Almost I saw his thought.

I had long experience in reading men under stress of such emotion.

I had no means to vindicate my judgment, but my conviction was that Sampson right then and there decided that the thing to do was to kill Wright.