They (the men) rushed to the chamber, and, passing through Alfgar's little room, beheld, by the light of many torches, Edmund bathed in his own blood, which still dripped with monotonous but terrible sound on the floor.
Edric entered, and with woe, real or affected (no one could tell), painted in his face, approached the body; and Elfwyn and Herstan beheld, or thought they beheld, a prodigy: they thought they saw the eyes open, and regard Edric, and that they saw the blood well up in the wound. But doubtless this was fancy.
"One thing we all must do," said Edric; "we must all help to find the murderer. The first step to that effect will be to note all present appearances. First, where is the weapon?"
"Here," said Alfgar, extending it.
"Why, Alfgar, it is your own dagger," said Elfwyn; "one which he gave you himself."
Alfgar uttered a plaintive and pitiful cry.
Edric possessed himself of the blood-stained weapon.
"Alfgar," said he, "you must have slept soundly. Tell us what you heard and saw."
He briefly related the particulars with which the reader is acquainted.
"But how could they enter? Was your door unfastened?"