Hushed in the seemingly placid repose lay the great city, while hundreds of its inhabitants were groaning in agony, or breathing their last sigh.
On reaching the upper end of Nicholas-lane, Rainbird stood still for a moment, and pointed out a large house on the right, just below the old church dedicated to the saint from which the thoroughfare took its name.
They were about to proceed towards it, when the smith again paused, and called Leonard's attention to two figures quickly advancing from the lower end of the street.

As the apprentice and his companion stood in the shade, they could not be seen, while the two persons, being in the moonlight, were fully revealed.

One of them, it was easy to perceive, was Chowles.

He stopped before the door of his dwelling and unfastened it, and while he was thus occupied, the other person turned his face so as to catch the full radiance of the moon, disclosing the features of Sir Paul Parravicin.

Before Leonard recovered from the surprise into which he was thrown by this unexpected discovery, they had entered the house.
He then hurried forward, but, to his great disappointment, found the door locked.