One hand was still poised a foot above the table.

It was he who broke the tense and lifeless tableau.
Slowly, almost as slowly as Aldous had opened the door, Quade turned his head, and stared into the coldly smiling face of the man whom he had plotted to kill, and saw the gleaming pistol in his hand.

A curious look overcame his pouchy face, a look not altogether of terror--but of shock.

He knew Aldous had heard.

He accepted in an instant, and perceptibly, the significance of the pistol in his hand.