"An honest man," thought Wogan, "does not take off his boots before he mounts the stairs." Clementina was still standing at his side.

Without changing his attitude he rapped with his knuckles gently twice upon the boards of the stair.
She turned towards him with a gasp of the breath.

He rapped again twice, fearful lest she should speak to him.

She understood that he had given her the signal to go.

She turned on her heel and slipped back into her room..