I had left John on the third floor opening some of the packing cases by the light of a lamp with a tool somewhat like a plasterer's hammer; that is, a hammer with a small axe-blade at the reverse of the head.

As I stood talking to Doctor Norbury, I could hear him knocking out the nails and wrenching up the lids; and when I entered the doorway leading to the stairs, I could still hear him.

Just as I closed the staircase door behind me, I heard a rumbling noise from above; then all was still.
"I went up the stairs to the second floor, where, as the staircase was all in darkness, I stopped to light the gas.

As I turned to ascend the next flight, I saw a hand projecting over the edge of the half-way landing.

I ran up the stairs, and there, on the landing, I saw John lying huddled up in a heap at the foot of the top flight.