He turned quickly when he reached the bottom as though surprised by a noise behind him. He listened intently, then noticed that the patter of the raindrops made a perceptible sound upon the flat steps.
He knocked on the door three times. Faint taps seemed to be repeated from within. He knocked once.
A single tap echoed. The man knocked twice. The door was opened inward, revealing a dim light.
The man moved along the stone floor of the basement. There were cracks above, through which rain dripped, but he continued on to a spot where other steps went down. At the bottom he reached a dry cement floor.
Turning to the right, he entered an underground apartment. A man was seated at a crude table on which rested a lighted lantern.
Other footsteps came along the passageway. The newcomer turned. Into the lighted room came a stooped, longstriding creature whose face was more apish than human.
"Did you close the door, Jupe?" asked the man at the table.
"Ehhh!" answered the ape-faced being.
The man who had just arrived laughed as he removed his black rubber hat and coat.
"When did you teach Jupe to answer the door?" he asked.