Here they stripped him of his back-and-breast, and when that was done the officer again led the way, and Crispin followed between two troopers.

They made him mount three flights of stairs, and hurried him along a passage to a door by which a soldier stood mounting guard.

At a word from the officer the sentry turned, and unfastening the heavy bolts, he opened the door.

Roughly the officer bade Sir Crispin enter, and stood aside that he might pass.
Crispin obeyed him silently, and crossed the threshold to find himself within a mean, gloomy chamber, and to hear the heavy door closed and made fast again behind him.

His stout heart sank a little as he realized that that closed door shut out to him the world for ever; but once again would he cross that threshold, and that would be the preface to the crossing of the greater threshold of eternity.
Then something stirred in one of that room's dark corners, and he started, to see that he was not alone, remembering that Cromwell had said he was to have a companion in his last hours.
"Who are you ?" came a dull voice--a voice that was eloquent of misery.
"Master Stewart!" he exclaimed, recognizing his companion.