Nigh upon midnight he walked in that direction, walked in barefooted stealth, listening for a movement, a voice.

Nearer and nearer he approached, till he saw at length the ray of a lantern; but no step, no murmur, told of wakeful guard.

Trembling as though with cold, though sweat streamed over his body, he strode forward; there, propped against the wall, sat the two slaves fast asleep.

Marcian glanced at the stairs; his face in the dim lantern light was that of a devil.

All of a sudden one of the men started, and opened his eyes.
Thereupon Marcian caught up a staff that lay beside them, and began to belabour them both with savage blows.