The discordant clang of the gong died away into the far distance.

Crouching there in the shade of the wall I felt like a criminal.

Then, angry at myself, I advanced slowly forward, yet keeping well under cover.
The light fell slanting across the stone steps in front, and revealed a narrow opening through the brick coping beyond.

I must pass that way in reaching the street, but hesitated to go forward boldly.

I could see only a few feet in any direction, as the fog was thickening, driving along the soaked pavement in dense gray clouds, already beginning to blot from view the houses opposite.