From under the door a red stain had spread over the floor of the passage and dried there.

Sapt sank against the opposite wall.

I tried the door.

It was locked.
"Where's Josef ?" muttered Sapt.
"Where's the King ?" I responded.
Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips.

I ran back to the dining-room, and seized a heavy poker from the fireplace.