The face rose; a pair of shoulders, a portly body, and a pair of unbooted legs became visible.

The man carried a drawn sword; between his closed eyelashes Wogan saw that four others with the like arms followed.

There should have been six; but the sixth was Harry Whittington, who, to be sure, was not likely to show himself to Wogan awake.

The five men passed the first turn of the stairs without noise.

Wogan was very well pleased with their noiselessness.