Valerie still stood there, watching with fearful eyes and bated breath that tremendous struggle which at any moment she expected to see terminate in the death of her only friend.
In her way she was helping Garnache, though she little realized it.

The six tapers in the candle-branch she held aloft afforded the only light for that stormy scene, and that light was in the eyes of Garnache's assailants, showing him their faces yet leaving his own in shadow.
He fell back steadily towards that door.

He could not see it; but there was not the need.

He knew that it was in a direct line with the one that opened upon the stairs, and by the latter he steered his backward course.

His aim was to gain the antechamber, although they guessed it not, thinking that he did but retreat through inability to stand his ground.