Miriam struggled, she battered him with the iron and dragged at him with her left hand, but in vain, for in that grip she was helpless as a child who fights against its nurse.

While she fought thus she heard the dull thud of the closing stone, and even in her despair rejoiced, knowing that until Marcus was beyond its threshold it could not be shut.

Ceasing from her useless struggle she gathered the forces of her mind.

Marcus was safe; the door was shut and could not be opened from the further side until another iron was procured; the guard had seen nothing.

But her escape was impossible.