In the moment when Del Ferice slipped, Giovanni had made a straight and deadly lunge at his body, and the sword, instead of passing through Ugo's lungs, ran swift and sure through his throat, with such force that the iron guard struck the falling man's jaw with tremendous impetus, before the oath the old Prince had uttered was fairly out of his mouth.
Seconds and witnesses and surgeons sprang forward hastily.

Del Ferice lay upon his side; he had fallen so heavily and suddenly as to wrench the sword from Giovanni's grip.

The old Prince gave one look, and dragged his son away.
"He is as dead as a stone," he muttered, with a savage gleam in his eyes.
Giovanni hastily began to dress, without paying any attention to the fresh wound he had received in the last encounter.

In the general excitement, his surgeon had joined the group about the fallen man.

Before Giovanni had got his overcoat on he came back with Spicca, who looked crestfallen and disappointed.
"He is not dead at all," said the surgeon.