He leaned further from the window and shouted; but no one paid him the slightest attention. The crowd shifted up the street, the din growing as they went; there was a sound of slammed doors; windows opened opposite and heads craned out. Something was shouted up and the heads disappeared.
Ralph sprang back from the window, as more and more surged into sight; he went to his door, glancing at his papers as he ran across; unlocked the door; listened a moment; went on to the landing and shouted for a servant.
There was a sound of footsteps and voices below; the men were already alert, but no answer came to his call. He shouted again.
“Who is there? Find out what the disturbance means.”
There was an answer from one of his men; and the street door opened and closed. Again he ran to the window, and saw his man run out without his doublet across the court, and seize a woman by the arm.
He waited in passionate expectancy; saw him drop the woman’s arm and turn to another; and then run swiftly back to the house.
There was something sinister in the man’s very movements across that little space; he ran desperately, with his head craning forward; once he stumbled; once he glanced up at his master; and Ralph caught a sight of his face.
Ralph was on the landing as the steps thundered upstairs, and met him at the head of the flight.
“Speak man; what is it?”
The servant lifted a face stamped with terror, a couple of feet below Ralph’s.