We were just in time to catch a glimpse of the tall, black-bearded figure, his shoulders rounded as he tiptoed down the passage.

Then he passed through the same door as before, and the light of the candle framed it in the darkness and shot one single yellow beam across the gloom of the corridor.

We shuffled cautiously towards it, trying every plank before we dared to put our whole weight upon it.

We had taken the precaution of leaving our boots behind us, but, even so, the old boards snapped and creaked beneath our tread.

Sometimes it seemed impossible that he should fail to hear our approach.