“What have you done?” she screamed at Gerda. “What have you done?” She stumbled over to the lamp and turned it on.
Gerda was standing over Denny, her face white and hard. She said, without looking at Stella, “Shut up! Don’t make a sound.”
Denny rolled over on his side and struggled up on his elbow. A long, thin-bladed table-knife was driven deeply into his neck. Stella could see the silver handle protruding, and she pressed her hands against her mouth in horror.
Blood began to flow over Denny’s white shirt and run on to the carpet. He touched the handle with his hand as if he couldn’t believe that this had happened to him. He said in a very low, choked voice, “Did you do it?” to Gerda.
Gerda didn’t say anything. She was watching the red ribbon running on to the cream carpet.
“Couldn’t you have left me alone?” Denny said. “My God, I was a fool to have had anything to do with you two. It was the money, I suppose. I didn’t think you were as bad as that. Do you think it will do you any good? Don’t stand there looking at me. Get me a doctor. Do you want me to bleed to death?”
“Yes,” Stella said wildly, “get him a doctor, for God’s sake!”
Gerda just said, “Shut up!” and drew away from Denny with a little grimace of disgust.
“Do you want me to die?” Denny said, panic coming into his eyes. “Help me! Don’t stand staring. Help me, you bitch! Can’t you see I’m bleeding to death?”
Stella threw herself on the settee and began to scream wildly. Outside, the wind continued to roar and the rain drummed on the roof.