A murmur ran through the group.

Sir Oliver flashed a glance upon it, and every tongue trembled into silence.
In that silence he strode up the steps, and entered the rush-strewn hall.

As he vanished he heard the hubbub behind him break out anew, fiercer than it had been before.

But he nothing heeded it.
He found himself face to face with a servant, who shrank before him, staring as those in the courtyard had stared.

His heart sank.