But I didn't give up in the end, and I'll tell you what stopped me.

It was the recollection of that confounded doorkeeper who had called after me.

I felt sure the fellow would be on the look-out at the head of the stairs.
If he asked me what I had been after, as he had the right to do, I wouldn't know what to answer that wouldn't make me look silly if no worse.

I got very hot.

There was no chance of slinking out of this business.
"I had lost my bearings somehow down there.