Page:Andreyev - A Dilemma (Brown, 1910).djvu/84

76 Then, in an unperturbed manner, without attempt at concealment, I picked up the paper-weight, and, raising it in my hand, calmly approached Alexis. He, without blinking, gazed upon me with his pale eyes and repeated:

"She thinks . . ."

"Yes, she thinks."

Slowly, easily, I began to raise my hand, and Alexis also slowly began to raise his, without removing his eyes from me.

"Hold a moment!" said I sternly.

The hand of Alexis remained where it was, while he, pale, still keeping his eyes upon me, smiled incredulously with his lips alone. Tatiana Nikolayevna uttered a strange cry, but it was too late. I struck him with the sharp edge nearer the temple than the eye. And when he fell I bent over and struck him two more times. The district attorney declared that I had struck him several times, because his head was badly crushed. But that is untrue. I struck him