We listened. The sound of voices was fainter here. We still saw the reflection of the flames in the sky. Otherwise, there was no sign or sound of human life.
The gate led into an ornamental garden with the Castle at the further end. All the windows were in darkness. We threaded a garden path leading to the house. It brought us in front of a glass door. I turned the handle and it yielded to my grasp.
I whispered to Francis:
"Stay where you are! And if you hear me shout, fly for your life!"
For, I reflected, the place might be full of troops. If there were any risk it would be better for me to take it since Francis, with his identity papers, had a better chance than I of bringing the document into safety.
I opened the glass door and found myself in a lobby with a door on the right.
I listened again. All was still. I cautiously opened the door and looked in. As I did so the place was suddenly flooded with light and a voice—a voice I had often heard in my dreams—called out imperiously:
"Stay where you are and put your hands above your head!"
Clubfoot stood there, a pistol in his great hand pointed at me.
"Grundt!" I shouted but I did not move.