What was in my mind I do not know; only that some instinct of protection led me there, where my lady lay unconscious of the hideous menace that hung over her.

At the entrance to the court a tall, powerful man was lounging against the wall, and he seemed to look at me curiously as I passed; but I hardly noticed him and strode forward into the narrow passage.

By the shabby gateway of the house I halted and looked up at such of the windows as I could see over the wall.

They were all dark.
All the inmates, then, were in bed.

Vaguely comforted by this, I walked on to the New Street end of the court and looked out.