When Paget entered, the wall closed behind him.
The room was small and barren. In one corner lay a dark mass of cloth. Paget stopped and lifted a dark-blue robe, topped by a cowl. He donned the garment and stepped to the wall opposite the spot where he had entered.
He tapped the wall seven times. A momentary silence; then seven answering taps were heard. Paget tapped five times. A portion of the wall slid open.
Paget entered a larger room where four cowled men were standing. One of them approached him. The room was filled with a dim, weird light.
“Seven,” came a whispered voice. The word was uttered by the cowled figure that stood before Paget.
“Silence,” whispered Paget, in reply.
“One,” came the next challenge.
“Five,” was Paget’s response.
“Our name.”
“The Silent Seven.”