Now they were at the last flight, which descended to a little recess set at right angles to the steps and flush with the floor of the basement, for once the door of the stairway had opened here.

Thus a person standing on the last stair could not be seen by any in the tower.

They reached the step and halted.

Then very stealthily Nehushta went on to her hands and knees and thrust her head forward so that she could look into the base of the tower.

It was dark as the grave, only a faint gleam of starlight reflected from his armour showed where Marcus lay, so close that she could touch him with her hand.