Fresnoy lay, apparently stunned, and completely at my mercy.

I stood an instant looking down at him, in two minds whether I should not run him through.
But the memory of old days, when he had played his part in more honourable fashion and shown a coarse good-fellowship in the field, held my hand; and flinging a curse at him, I turned in anxious haste to the door, the centre of all this bloodshed and commotion.

The light still shone through the breach in the panel, but for some minutes--since Fresnoy's rush up the stairs, indeed--I had heard no sound from this quarter.

Now, looking in with apprehensions which grew with the continuing silence, I learned the reason.

The room was empty! Such a disappointment in the moment of triumph was hard to bear.