“There was a dead silence for a moment; then Joachim, a broad-shouldered, superserviceable knave, who had always tried to ingratiate himself with the Prince by spying upon the rest of the servants and tattling, stepped forward, with an air of bravado, and said, ‘I will bring her out.’

“‘Go ahead,’ said the Prince, sullenly.

“Joachim made a rush at the door; it trembled and creaked, but did not yield; he moved farther back, drew his breath hard, and,—­strong as a bull,—­went at it with a furious rush; the lock gave way, the door flew open and Joachim sprawled upon the floor.  I could see Estella standing back near the window, her right arm was raised, and I caught the glitter of something in her hand.  In an instant Joachim was on his feet and approached her; I saw him grasp her; there was a slight scuffle, and the next moment Joachim rushed out of the room, pale as death, with his hand to his breast, crying out: 

“‘Oh! my God! she has stabbed me.’

“He tore open his shirt bosom, and there upon his hairy breast was a bloody spot; but the knife had struck the breastbone and inflicted only a shallow flesh-wound.  Joachim laughed, replaced his shirt, and said: 

“’Ah!  I might have known a girl’s hand could not strike a deadly blow.  I will bring her out, my lord.  Get me a rope.’

“He turned toward me, as he spoke; but on the instant I saw a sharp spasm contract his features; he clapped his hand to his heart; a look of surprise and then of terror came over his face.

“‘Oh, my God!’ he cried, ‘I am poisoned.’

“The most awful shrieks I ever heard broke from him; and the next moment his limbs seemed to lose their strength, and he fell in a heap on the floor; then he rolled over and over; mighty convulsions swept through him; he groaned, cried, shrieked, foamed at the mouth; there was a sudden snorting sound, and he stiffened out and was dead.

“We fell back appalled.  Then in the doorway appeared the figure of Estella, her blue eyes bright as stars, her long golden hair falling like a cloak to her waist, the red-tipped knife in her hand; she looked like a Gothic priestess—­a Vala of Odin—­with the reeking human sacrifice already at her feet.  The blood of a long line of heroic ancestors thrilled in her veins.  Stepping over the dead body, already beginning to swell and grow spotted with many colors, like a snake, she advanced toward the Prince, who stood in his dressing-gown, trembling, and nearly as bloated, pale and hideous as the wretched Joachim.

“‘Is it you,’ she said—­’you, the dealer in human flesh and blood, that has bought me?  Come to me, and take possession of your bond-woman!’

“With a cry of terror the Prince turned his back and fled as fast as his legs would carry him, while all the rest of us followed pell-mell.  At the end of the hall is a large iron door, used for protection in case of fire.

“‘Quick,’ shrieked the Prince, ‘lock the door! lock the door!’