She paused then, with her fingers on the key; but not for long.

She remembered that, before she descended, she had heard neither shot nor cry.

Resistance therefore had ceased, and that of a single house, held by two helpless women, could avail nothing, could but excite to fury and reprisals.
She turned the key and opened.

The lights dazzled her.

The doorway, as she stood faltering, almost fainting, before it, seemed to be full of grotesque dancing faces, some swathed in bandages, others powder-blackened, some hot with excitement, others pallid with fatigue.
They were such faces, piled one above the other, as are seen in bad dreams.
On the intruders' side, those who pressed in first saw a girl strangely quiet, who held the door wide for them.