The battle went on, and the unseen witness gazed admiringly at the well-pitted antagonists.
He was a jovial young fellow, and he really felt inclined to cheer the gallant athletes, so cleverly did they handle each other.
But he restrained his inclination, and continued his watching, and wondering who the combatants were and which would gain the mastery.
But all at once he uttered a startled cry:
"Heavens! that was murder!"
He had heard the ripping sound of the dagger pressed upward into the victim's breast, and his dying groan as he rolled over in the snow.
Starting away from the window, he ran away from the room into the hall, eager to make his way into the street.
In the lower hall he blundered against another man, who caught him by the arm, saying, roughly:
"Hello! what are you running away like this for, eh?"
"Don't you know me, Doctor Rowe? Come with me, for God's sake, into the street. I was looking out of the window, and saw a murder being done."