laurence did not go to captain wexler : his excuse could not withstand the absence of orders , of any real explanation ; instead he went directly to the narrow , humid stairway which led down to the baths , and in the dressing room put off swiftly his boots , his coat , flung down upon the shelves with his sword laid down beside them ; his trousers and shirt he left on , and taking with him a towel went into the great tiled steam room .