Thenmattersreachedasuddenclimax。Inhisagitationthedentisthadbeenpullinghardonhispipe，andasMarcusforthelasttimethrusthisfaceclosetohisown，McTeague，inopeninghislipstoreply，blewastifling，acridclouddirectlyinMarcusSchouler’seyes。Marcusknockedthepipefromhisfingerswithasuddenflashofhishand；itspunacrosstheroomandbrokeintoadozenfragmentsinafarcorner。
McTeaguerosetohisfeet，hiseyeswide。Butasyethewasnotangry，onlysurprised，takenallabackbythesuddennessofMarcusSchouler’soutbreakaswellasbyitsunreasonableness。WhyhadMarcusbrokenhispipe？Whatdiditallmean，anyway？Asherosethedentistmadeavaguemotionwithhisrighthand。DidMarcusmisinterpretitasagestureofmenace？Hesprangbackasthoughavoidingablow。Allatoncetherewasacry。Marcushadmadeaquick，peculiarmotion，swinginghisarmupwardwithawideandsweepinggesture；hisjack-knifelayopeninhispalm；itshotforwardasheflungit，glintedsharplybyMcTeague’shead，andstruckquiveringintothewallbehind。
Asuddenchillranthroughtheroom；theothersstoodtransfixed，asattheswiftpassageofsomecoldanddeadlywind。Deathhadstoopedthereforaninstant，hadstoopedandpast，leavingatrailofterrorandconfusion。Thenthedoorleadingtothestreetslammed；Marcushaddisappeared。
Thereonagreatbabelofexclamationarose。Thetensionofthatallbutfatalinstantsnapped，andspeechbecameoncemorepossible。
“Hewouldhaveknifedyou。“