Checking the handle with all my strength I lowered him as noiselessly as I could.

As his feet touched the cobbles below he let go and, without a thought of my safety, made off down the lane.
I tugged the derrick inboard and recaptured the rope; cogged the winch, swung out, dropped hand over hand into the lane, and raced up it with all the terrors of the law at my heels..