Be swift, I hear the guard stirring without." Nehushta glided forward and knelt by the wounded man, placing her arms beneath him.
"Ready," she said.

"Here is the iron." Miriam took it, and stepping to the wall, felt with her fingers for the crack, which in that darkness it took time to find.

At length she had it, and inserting the thin hooked iron, lifted the hidden latch and pulled.

The stone door was very heavy and she needed all her strength to move it.

At last it began to swing.
"Now," she said to Nehushta, who straightened herself and dragged the wounded Marcus to his feet.
"Quick, quick!" said Miriam, "the guards enter." Supported by Nehushta, Marcus took three tottering steps and reached the open door.