He sat up and listened.

The sound which had disturbed him was repeated,--a quiet but insistent ringing of the front-door bell.

He glanced at his watch.

It was barely midnight, but unusually late for a visitor.

Once more the bell rang, and this time he remembered that Robert slept out, and that he was alone in the flat.
He thrust his feet into slippers, wrapped his dressing gown around him, and made his way to the front door.
Julian's only idea had been that this might be some messenger from the Council.