What happened to general Zaroff at the end of the story?

From the fact that Rainsford is sleeping is Zaroff's bed, we can infer the general is dead.... he lost the game.

The general made one of his deepest bows. "I see," he said. "Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford." . . .

He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.

"He had never slept in a better bed" could be a metaphor for death, referring to Zaroff's death or his own. The story uses metaphors throughout. Why not in the closing statement?