The floor hardly creaked under the bare cautious footsteps which approached the door.
The latch clicked, the door creaked, and he noticed a faint smell of marjoram and pumpkin, and Maryanka's whole figure appeared in the doorway.

He saw her only for an instant in the moonlight.

She slammed the door and, muttering something, ran lightly back again.

Olenin began rapping softly but nothing responded.

He ran to the window and listened.