youwant
a
place
?
”
demanded
the
sour-looking
gentleman
,
eyeing
him
narrowly
.
“
Sadly
,
”
replied
Morse
.
“
Well
,
then
,
follow
me
,
”
said
the
gentleman
,
“
and
I’ll
see
what
can
be
done
for
you
.
”
And
they
left
the
shop
together
.
Chapter
9
The
Moon
in
the
First
Quarter
In
spite
of
his
resolution
to
the
contrary
,
Auriol
found
it
impossible
to
resist
the
fascination
of
Ebba’s
society
,
and
became
a
daily
visitor
at
her
father’s
house
.
Mr.
Thorneycroft
noticed
the
growing
attachment
between
them
with
satisfaction
.
His
great
wish
was
to
see
his
daughter
united
to
the
husband
of
her
choice
,
and
in
the
hope
of
smoothing
the
way
,
he
let
Auriol
understand
that
he
should
give
her
a
considerable
marriage
portion
.
For
the
last
few
days
a
wonderful
alteration
had
taken
place
in
Auriol’s
manner
,
and
he
seemed
to
have
shaken
off
altogether
the
cloud
that
had
hitherto
sat
upon
his
spirits
.
Enchanted
by
the
change
,
Ebba
indulged
in
the
most
blissful
anticipations
of
the
future
.
One
evening
they
walked
forth
together
,
and
almost
unconsciously
directed
their
steps
towards
the
river
.
Lingering
on
its
banks
,
they
gazed
on
the
full
tide
,
admired
the
glorious
sunset
,
and
breathed
over
and
over
again
those
tender
nothings
so
eloquent
in
lovers’
ears
.
“
Oh
!
how
different
you
are
from
what
you
were
a
week
ago
,
”
said
Ebba
playfully
.
“
Promise
me
not
to
indulge
in
any
more
of
those
gloomy
fancies
.
”
“
I
will
not
indulge
in
them
if
I
can
help
it
,
rest
assured
,
sweet
Ebba
,
”
he
replied
.
“
But
my
spirits
are
not
always
under
my
control
.
I
am
surprised
at
my
own
cheerfulness
this
evening
.
”
“
I
never
felt
so
happy
,
”
she
replied
;
“
and
the
whole
scene
is
in
unison
with
my
feelings
.
How
soothing
is
the
calm
river
flowing
at
our
feet
!
—
how
tender
is
the
warm
sky
,
still
flushed
with
red
,
though
the
sun
has
set
!
—
And
see
,
yonder
hangs
the
crescent
moon
.
She
is
in
her
first
quarter
.
”
“
The
moon
in
her
first
quarter
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
in
a
tone
of
anguish
.
“
All
then
is
over
.
”
“
What
means
this
sudden
change
?
”
cried
Ebba
,
frightened
by
his
looks
.
“
Oh
,
Ebba
,
”
he
replied
,
“
I
must
leave
you
.
I
have
allowed
myself
to
dream
of
happiness
too
long
.
I
am
an
accursed
being
,
doomed
only
to
bring
misery
upon
those
who
love
me
.
I
warned
you
on
the
onset
,
but
you
would
not
believe
me
.
Let
me
go
,
and
perhaps
it
may
not
yet
be
too
late
to
save
you
.
”
“
Oh
no
,
do
not
leave
me
!
”
cried
Ebba
.
“
I
have
no
fear
while
you
are
with
me
.
”
“
But
you
do
not
know
the
terrible
fate
I
am
linked
to
,
”
he
said
.
“
This
is
the
night
when
it
will
be
accomplished
.
”
“
Your
moody
fancies
do
not
alarm
me
as
they
used
to
do
,
dear
Auriol
,
”
she
rejoined
,
“
because
I
know
them
to
be
the
fruit
of
a
diseased
imagination
.
Come
,
let
us
continue
our
walk
,
”
she
added
,
taking
his
arm
kindly
.
“
Ebba
,
”
he
cried
,
“
I
implore
you
to
let
me
go
!
I
have
not
the
power
to
tear
myself
away
unless
you
aid
me
.
”
“
I’m
glad
to
hear
it
,
”
she
rejoined
,
“
for
then
I
shall
hold
you
fast
.
”
“
You
know
not
what
you
do
!
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Release
me
!
oh
,
release
me
!
”
“
In
a
few
moments
the
fit
will
be
passed
,
”
she
rejoined
.
“
Let
us
walk
towards
the
abbey
.
”
“
It
is
in
vain
to
struggle
against
fate
,
”
ejaculated
Auriol
despairingly
.
And
he
suffered
himself
to
be
led
in
the
direction
proposed
.
Ebba
continued
to
talk
,
but
her
discourse
fell
upon
a
deaf
ear
,
and
at
last
she
became
silent
too
.
In
this
way
they
proceeded
along
Millbank
Street
and
Abingdon
Street
,
until
,
turning
off
on
the
right
,
they
found
themselves
before
an
old
and
partly-demolished
building
.
By
this
time
it
had
become
quite
dark
,
for
the
moon
was
hidden
behind
a
rack
of
clouds
,
but
a
light
was
seen
in
the
upper
storey
of
the
structure
,
occasioned
,
no
doubt
,
by
a
fire
within
it
,
which
gave
a
very
picturesque
effect
to
the
broken
outline
of
the
walls
.
Pausing
for
a
moment
to
contemplate
the
ruin
,
Ebba
expressed
a
wish
to
enter
it
.
Auriol
offered
no
opposition
,
and
passing
through
an
arched
doorway
,
and
ascending
a
short
,
spiral
,
stone
staircase
,
they
presently
arrived
at
a
roofless
chamber
,
which
it
was
evident
,
from
the
implements
and
rubbish
lying
about
,
was
about
to
be
razed
to
the
ground
.
On
one
side
there
was
a
large
arch
,
partly
bricked
up
,
through
which
opened
a
narrow
doorway
,
though
at
some
height
from
the
ground
.
With
this
a
plank
communicated
,
while
beneath
it
lay
a
great
heap
of
stones
,
amongst
which
were
some
grotesque
carved
heads
.
In
the
centre
of
the
chamber
was
a
large
square
opening
,
like
the
mouth
of
a
trap-door
,
from
which
the
top
of
a
ladder
projected
,
and
near
it
stood
a
flaming
brazier
,
which
had
cast
forth
the
glare
seen
from
below
.
Over
the
ruinous
walls
on
the
right
hung
the
crescent
moon
,
now
emerged
from
the
cloud
,
and
shedding
a
ghostly
glimmer
on
the
scene
.
“
What
a
strange
place
!
”
cried
Ebba
,
gazing
around
with
some
apprehension
.
“
It
looks
like
a
spot
one
reads
of
in
romance
.
I
wonder
where
that
trap
leads
to
?
”
“
Into
the
vault
beneath
,
no
doubt
,
”
replied
Auriol
.
“
But
why
did
we
come
hither
?
”
As
he
spoke
,
there
was
a
sound
like
mocking
laughter
,
but
whence
arising
it
was
difficult
to
say
.
“
Did
you
hear
that
sound
?
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
It
was
nothing
but
the
echo
of
laughter
from
the
street
,
”
she
replied
.
“
You
alarm
yourself
without
reason
,
Auriol
.
”
“
No
,
not
without
reason
,
”
he
cried
.
“
I
am
in
the
power
of
a
terrible
being
,
who
seeks
to
destroy
you
,
and
I
know
that
he
is
at
hand
.
Listen
to
me
,
Ebba
,
and
however
strange
my
recital
may
appear
,
do
not
suppose
it
the
ravings
of
a
madman
,
but
be
assured
it
is
the
truth
.
”
“
Beware
!
”
cried
a
deep
voice
,
issuing
apparently
from
the
depths
of
the
vault
.
“
Some
one
spoke
,
”
cried
Ebba
.
“
I
begin
to
share
your
apprehensions
.
Let
us
quit
this
place
.
”
“
Come
,
then
,
”
said
Auriol
.
“
Not
so
fast
,
”
cried
a
deep
voice
.
And
they
beheld
the
mysterious
owner
of
the
black
cloak
barring
their
passage
out
.
“
Ebba
,
you
are
mine
,
”
cried
the
stranger
.
“
Auriol
has
brought
you
to
me
.
”
“
It
is
false
!
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
I
never
will
yield
her
to
you
.
”
“
Remember
your
compact
,
”
rejoined
the
stranger
,
with
a
mocking
laugh
.
“
Oh
,
Auriol
!
”
cried
Ebba
,
“
I
fear
for
your
soul
.
You
have
not
made
a
compact
with
this
fiend
?
”
“
He
has
,
”
replied
the
stranger
;
“
and
by
that
compact
you
are
surrendered
to
me
.
”
And
,
as
he
spoke
,
he
advanced
towards
her
,
and
enveloping
her
in
his
cloak
,
her
cries
were
instantly
stifled
.
“
You
shall
not
go
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
seizing
him
.
“
Release
her
,
or
I
renounce
you
wholly
.
”
“
Fool
!
”
cried
the
stranger
,
“
since
you
provoke
my
wrath
,
take
your
doom
.
”
And
he
stamped
on
the
ground
.
At
this
signal
an
arm
was
thrust
from
the
trap-door
,
and
Auriol’s
hand
was
seized
with
an
iron
grasp
.
While
this
took
place
,
the
stranger
bore
his
lovely
burden
swiftly
up
the
plank
leading
to
the
narrow
doorway
in
the
wall
,
and
just
as
he
was
passing
through
it
he
pointed
towards
the
sky
,
and
shouted
with
a
mocking
smile
to
Auriol
—
“
Behold
!
the
moon
is
in
her
first
quarter
.
My
words
are
fulfilled
!
”
And
he
disappeared
.
Auriol
tried
to
disengage
himself
from
the
grasp
imposed
upon
him
in
vain
.
Uttering
ejaculations
of
rage
and
despair
,
he
was
dragged
forcibly
backwards
into
the
vault
.
Chapter
10
The
Statue
at
Charing
Cross
One
morning
,
two
persons
took
their
way
along
Parliament
Street
and
Whitehall
,
and
,
chatting
as
they
walked
,
turned
into
the
entrance
of
Spring
Gardens
,
for
the
purpose
of
looking
at
the
statue
at
Charing
Cross
.
One
of
them
was
remarkable
for
his
dwarfish
stature
and
strange
withered
features
.
The
other
was
a
man
of
middle
size
,
thin
,
rather
elderly
,
and
with
a
sharp
countenance
,
the
sourness
of
which
was
redeemed
by
a
strong
expression
of
benevolence
.
He
was
clad
in
a
black
coat
,
rather
rusty
,
but
well
brushed
,
buttoned
up
to
the
chin
,
black
tights
,
short
drab
gaiters
,
and
wore
a
white
neckcloth
and
spectacles
.
Mr.
Loftus
(
for
so
he
was
called
)
was
a
retired
merchant
,
of
moderate
fortune
,
and
lived
in
Abingdon
Street
.
He
was
a
bachelor
,
and
therefore
pleased
himself
;
and
being
a
bit
of
an
antiquary
,
rambled
about
all
day
long
in
search
of
some
object
of
interest
.
His
walk
,
on
the
present
occasion
,
was
taken
with
that
view
.
“
By
Jove
!
what
a
noble
statue
that
is
,
Morse
!
”
cried
Loftus
,
gazing
at
it
.
“
The
horse
is
magnificent
—
positively
magnificent
.
”
“
I
recollect
when
the
spot
was
occupied
by
a
gibbet
,
and
when
,
in
lieu
of
a
statue
,
an
effigy
of
the
martyred
monarch
was
placed
there
,
”
replied
Morse
.
“
That
was
in
the
time
of
the
Protectorate
.
”
“
You
cannot
get
those
dreams
out
of
your
head
,
Morse
,
”
said
Loftus
,
smiling
.
“
I
wish
I
could
persuade
myself
I
had
lived
for
two
centuries
and
a
half
.
”
“
Would
you
could
have
seen
the
ancient
cross
,
which
once
stood
there
,
erected
by
Edward
the
First
to
his
beloved
wife
,
‘Eleanor
of
Castile’
!
”
said
Morse
,
heedless
of
the
other’s
remark
.
“
It
was
much
mutilated
when
I
remember
it
;
some
of
the
pinnacles
were
broken
,
and
the
foliage
defaced
,
but
the
statues
of
the
queen
were
still
standing
in
the
recesses
;
and
altogether
the
effect
was
beautiful
.
”
“
It
must
have
been
charming
,
”
observed
Loftus
,
rubbing
his
hands
;
“
and
,
though
I
like
the
statue
,
I
would
much
rather
have
had
the
old
Gothic
cross
.
But
how
fortunate
the
former
escaped
destruction
in
Oliver
Cromwell’s
time
!
”
“
I
can
tell
you
how
that
came
to
pass
,
sir
,
”
replied
Morse
,
“
for
I
was
assistant
to
John
Rivers
,
the
brazier
,
to
whom
the
statue
was
sold
.
”
“
Ah
!
indeed
!
”
exclaimed
Loftus
.
“
I
have
heard
something
of
the
story
,
but
should
like
to
have
full
particulars
.
”
“
You
shall
hear
them
,
then
,
”
replied
Morse
.
“
Yon
statue
,
which
,
as
you
know
,
was
cast
by
Hubert
le
Sueur
,
in
1633
,
was
ordered
by
Parliament
to
be
sold
and
broken
to
pieces
.
Well
,
my
master
,
John
Rivers
,
being
a
stanch
Royalist
,
though
he
did
not
dare
to
avow
his
principles
,
determined
to
preserve
it
from
destruction
.
Accordingly
,
he
offered
a
good
round
sum
for
it
,
and
was
declared
the
purchaser
.
But
how
to
dispose
of
it
was
the
difficulty
?
He
could
trust
none
of
his
men
but
me
,
whom
he
knew
to
be
as
hearty
a
hater
of
the
Roundheads
,
and
as
loyal
to
the
memory
of
our
slaughtered
sovereign
,
as
himself
.
Well
,
we
digged
a
great
pit
,
secretly
,
in
the
cellar
,
whither
the
statue
had
been
conveyed
,
and
buried
it
.
The
job
occupied
us
nearly
a
month
;
and
during
that
time
,
my
master
collected
together
all
the
pieces
of
old
brass
he
could
procure
.
These
he
afterwards
produced
,
and
declared
they
were
the
fragments
of
the
statue
.
But
the
cream
of
the
jest
was
to
come
.
He
began
to
cast
handles
of
knives
and
forks
in
brass
,
giving
it
out
that
they
were
made
from
the
metal
of
the
statue
.
And
plenty
of
’em
he
sold
too
,
for
the
Cavaliers
bought
’em
as
memorials
of
their
martyred
monarch
,
and
the
Roundheads
as
evidences
of
his
fall
.
In
this
way
he
soon
got
back
his
outlay
.
”
“
Ha
!
ha
!
ha
!
”
laughed
Loftus
.
“
Well
,
in
due
season
came
the
Restoration
,
”
pursued
Morse
;
“
and
my
master
made
known
to
King
Charles
the
Second
the
treasure
he
had
kept
concealed
for
him
.
It
was
digged
forth
,
placed
in
its
old
position
—
but
I
forget
whether
the
brazier
was
rewarded
.
I
rather
think
not
.
”
“
No
matter
,
”
cried
Loftus
;
“
he
was
sufficiently
rewarded
by
the
consciousness
of
having
done
a
noble
action
.
But
let
us
go
and
examine
the
sculpture
on
the
pedestal
more
closely
.
”
With
this
he
crossed
over
the
road
;
and
,
taking
off
his
hat
,
thrust
his
head
through
the
iron
railing
surrounding
the
pedestal
,
while
Morse
,
in
order
to
point
out
the
beauties
of
the
sculpture
with
greater
convenience
,
mounted
upon
a
stump
beside
him
.
“
You
are
aware
that
this
is
the
work
of
Grinling
Gibbons
,
sir
?
”
cried
the
dwarf
.
“
To
be
sure
I
am
,
”
replied
Loftus
—
“
to
be
sure
.
What
fancy
and
gusto
is
displayed
in
the
treatment
of
these
trophies
!
”
“
The
execution
of
the
royal
arms
is
equally
admirable
,
”
cried
Morse
.
“
Never
saw
anything
finer
,
”
rejoined
Loftus
—
“
never
,
upon
my
life
.
”
Every
one
knows
how
easily
a
crowd
is
collected
in
London
,
and
it
cannot
be
supposed
that
our
two
antiquaries
would
be
allowed
to
pursue
their
investigations
unmolested
.
Several
ragged
urchins
got
round
them
,
and
tried
to
discover
what
they
were
looking
at
,
at
the
same
time
cutting
their
jokes
upon
them
.
These
were
speedily
joined
by
a
street-sweeper
,
rather
young
in
the
profession
,
a
ticket-porter
,
a
butcher’s
apprentice
,
an
old
Israelitish
clothes-man
,
a
coalheaver
,
and
a
couple
of
charity-boys
.
“
My
eyes
!
”
cried
the
street-sweeper
,
“
only
twig
these
coves
.
If
they
ain’t
green
‘uns
,
I’m
done
.
”
“
Old
Spectacles
thinks
he
has
found
it
all
out
,
”
remarked
the
porter
;
“
ve
shall
hear
wot
it
all
means
by-and-by
.
”
“
Plesh
ma
‘art
,
”
cried
the
Jew
,
“
vat
two
funny
old
genelmen
.
I
vonder
vat
they
thinks
they
sees
?
”
“
I’ll
tell
‘ee
,
master
,
”
rejoined
the
butcher’s
apprentice
;
“
they’re
a
tryin’
vich
on
’em
can
see
farthest
into
a
millstone
.
”
“
Only
think
of
living
all
my
life
in
London
,
and
never
examining
this
admirable
work
of
art
before
!
”
cried
Loftus
,
quite
unconscious
that
he
had
become
the
object
of
general
curiosity
.
“
Look
closer
at
it
,
old
gem’man
,
”
cried
the
porter
.
“
The
nearer
you
get
,
the
more
you’ll
admire
it
.
”
“
Quite
true
,
”
replied
Loftus
,
fancying
Morse
had
spoken
;
“
it’ll
bear
the
closest
inspection
.
”
“
I
say
,
Ned
,
”
observed
one
of
the
charity-boys
to
the
other
,
“
do
you
get
over
the
railin’
;
they
must
ha’
dropped
summat
inside
.
See
what
it
is
.
”
“
I’m
afraid
o’
spikin’
myself
,
Joe
,
”
replied
the
other
;
“
but
just
give
us
a
lift
,
and
I’ll
try
.
”
“
Wot
are
you
arter
there
,
you
young
rascals
?
”
cried
the
coalheaver
;
“
come
down
,
or
I’ll
send
the
perlice
to
you
.
”
“
Wot
two
precious
guys
these
is
!
”
cried
a
ragamuffin
lad
,
accompanied
by
a
bulldog
.
“
I’ve
a
good
mind
to
chuck
the
little
’un
off
the
post
,
and
set
Tartar
at
him
.
Here
,
boy
,
here
!
”
“
That
‘ud
be
famous
fun
,
indeed
,
Spicer
!
”
cried
another
rapscallion
behind
him
.
“
Arrah
!
let
’em
alone
,
will
you
there
,
you
young
divils
!
”
cried
an
Irish
bricklayer
;
“
don’t
you
see
they’re
only
two
paiceable
antiquaries
.
”
“
Oh
,
they’re
antiquaries
,
are
they
?
”
screamed
the
little
street-sweeper
.
“
Vell
,
I
never
see
the
likes
on
’em
afore
;
did
you
,
Sam
?
”
“
Never
,
”
replied
the
porter
.
“
Och
,
murther
in
Irish
!
ye’re
upsettin’
me
,
an’
all
the
fruits
of
my
industry
,
”
cried
an
applewoman
,
against
whom
the
bricklayer
had
run
his
barrow
.
“
Divil
seize
you
for
a
careless
wagabone
!
Why
don’t
you
look
where
ye’re
goin’
,
and
not
dhrive
into
people
in
that
way
?
”
“
Axes
pardon
,
Molly
,
”
said
the
bricklayer
;
“
but
I
was
so
inter
est
ed
in
them
antiquaries
,
that
I
didn’t
obsarve
ye
.
”
“
Antiquaries
be
hanged
!
what’s
such
warmint
to
me
?
”
cried
the
applewoman
furiously
.
“
You’ve
destroyed
my
day’s
market
,
and
bad
luck
to
ye
!
”
“
Well
,
never
heed
,
Molly
,
”
cried
the
good-natured
bricklayer
;
“
I’ll
make
it
up
t’ye
.
Pick
up
your
apples
,
and
you
shall
have
a
dhrop
of
the
craiter
if
you’ll
come
along
wid
me
.
”
While
this
was
passing
,
a
stout
gentleman
came
from
the
farther
side
of
the
statue
,
and
perceiving
Loftus
,
cried
—
“
Why
,
brother-in-law
,
is
that
you
?
”
But
Loftus
was
too
much
engrossed
to
notice
him
,
and
continued
to
expiate
upon
the
beauty
of
the
trophies
.
“
What
are
you
talking
about
,
brother
?
”
cried
the
stout
gentleman
.
“
Grinling
Gibbons
,
”
replied
Loftus
,
without
turning
round
.
“
Horace
Walpole
said
that
no
one
before
him
could
give
to
wood
the
airy
lightness
of
a
flower
,
and
here
he
has
given
it
to
a
stone
.
”
“
This
may
be
all
very
fine
,
my
good
fellow
,
”
said
the
stout
gentleman
,
seizing
him
by
the
shoulder
;
“
but
don’t
you
see
the
crowd
you’re
collecting
round
you
?
You’ll
be
mobbed
presently
.
”
“
Why
,
how
the
devil
did
you
come
here
,
brother
Thorneycroft
?
”
cried
Loftus
,
at
last
recognising
him
.
“
Come
along
,
and
I’ll
tell
you
,
”
replied
the
iron-merchant
,
dragging
him
away
,
while
Morse
followed
closely
behind
them
.
“
I’m
so
glad
to
have
met
you
,
”
pursued
Thorneycroft
,
as
soon
as
they
were
clear
of
the
mob
;
“
you’ll
be
shocked
to
hear
what
has
happened
to
your
niece
,
Ebba
.
”
“
Why
,
what
has
happened
to
her
?
”
demanded
Loftus
.
“
You
alarm
me
.
Out
with
it
at
once
.
I
hate
to
be
kept
in
suspense
.
”
“
She
has
left
me
,
”
replied
Thorneycroft
—
“
left
her
old
indulgent
father
—
run
away
.
”
“
Run
away
!
”
exclaimed
Loftus
.
“
Impossible
!
I’ll
not
believe
it
—
even
from
your
lips
.
”
“
Would
it
were
not
so
!
—
but
it
is
,
alas
!
too
true
,
”
replied
Thorneycroft
mournfully
.
“
And
the
thing
was
so
unnecessary
,
for
I
would
gladly
have
given
her
to
the
young
man
.
My
sole
hope
is
that
she
has
not
utterly
disgraced
herself
.
”
“
No
,
she
is
too
high
principled
for
that
,
”
cried
Loftus
.
“
Rest
easy
on
that
score
.
But
with
whom
has
she
run
away
?
”
“
With
a
young
man
named
Auriol
Darcy
,
”
replied
Thorneycroft
.
“
He
was
brought
to
my
house
under
peculiar
circumstances
.
”
“
I
never
heard
of
him
,
”
said
Loftus
.
“
But
I
have
,
”
interposed
Morse
.
“
I’ve
known
him
these
two
hundred
years
.
”
“
Eh
day
!
who’s
this
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
.
“
A
crack-brained
little
fellow
,
whom
I’ve
engaged
as
valet
,
”
replied
Loftus
.
“
He
fancies
he
was
born
in
Queen
Elizabeth’s
time
.
”
“
It’s
no
fancy
,
”
cried
Morse
.
“
I
am
perfectly
acquainted
with
Auriol
Darcy’s
history
.
He
drank
of
the
same
elixir
as
myself
.
”
“
If
you
know
him
,
can
you
give
us
a
clue
to
find
him
?
”
asked
Thorneycroft
.
“
I
am
sorry
I
cannot
,
”
replied
Morse
.
“
I
only
saw
him
for
a
few
minutes
the
other
night
,
after
I
had
been
thrown
into
the
Serpentine
by
the
tall
man
in
the
black
cloak
.
”
“
What’s
that
you
say
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
quickly
.
“
I
have
heard
Ebba
speak
of
a
tall
man
in
a
black
cloak
having
some
mysterious
connection
with
Auriol
.
I
hope
that
person
has
nothing
to
do
with
her
disappearance
.
”
“
I
shouldn’t
wonder
if
he
had
,
”
replied
Morse
.
“
I
believe
that
black
gentleman
to
be
—
—
”
“
What
!
—
who
?
”
demanded
Thorneycroft
.
“
Neither
more
nor
less
than
the
devil
,
”
replied
Morse
mysteriously
.
“
Pshaw
!
poh
!
”
cried
Loftus
.
“
I
told
you
the
poor
fellow
was
half
cracked
.
”
At
this
moment
,
a
roguish-looking
fellow
,
with
red
whiskers
and
hair
,
and
clad
in
a
velveteen
jacket
with
ivory
buttons
,
who
had
been
watching
the
iron-merchant
at
some
distance
,
came
up
,
and
touching
his
hat
,
said
,
“
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
I
believe
?
”
“
My
name
is
Thorneycroft
,
fellow
!
”
cried
the
iron-merchant
,
eyeing
him
askance
.
“
And
your
name
,
I
fancy
,
is
Ginger
?
”
“
Exactly
,
sir
,
”
replied
the
dog-fancier
,
again
touching
his
hat
,
“
ex-actly
.
I
didn’t
think
you
would
rekilect
me
,
sir
.
I
bring
you
some
news
of
your
darter
.
”
“
Of
Ebba
!
”
exclaimed
Thorneycroft
,
in
a
tone
of
deep
emotion
.
“
I
hope
your
news
is
good
.
”
“
I
wish
it
wos
better
,
for
her
sake
as
well
as
yours
,
sir
,
”
replied
the
dog-fancier
gravely
;
“
but
I’m
afeerd
she’s
in
werry
bad
hands
.
”
“
That
she
is
,
if
she’s
in
the
hands
o’
the
black
gentleman
,
”
observed
Morse
.
“
Vy
,
Old
Parr
,
that
ain’t
you
?
”
cried
Ginger
,
gazing
at
him
in
astonishment
.
“
Vy
,
‘ow
you
are
transmogrified
,
to
be
sure
!
”
“
But
what
of
my
daughter
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
;
“
where
is
she
?
Take
me
to
her
,
and
you
shall
be
well
rewarded
.
”
“
I’ll
do
my
best
to
take
you
to
her
,
and
without
any
reward
,
sir
,
”
replied
Ginger
,
“
for
my
heart
bleeds
for
the
poor
young
creater
.
As
I
said
afore
,
she’s
in
dreadful
bad
hands
.
”
“
Do
you
allude
to
Mr.
Auriol
Darcy
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
.
“
No
,
he’s
as
much
a
wictim
of
this
infernal
plot
as
your
darter
,
”
replied
Ginger
;
“
I
thought
him
quite
different
at
first
—
but
I’ve
altered
my
mind
entirely
since
some
matters
has
come
to
my
knowledge
.
”
“
You
alarm
me
greatly
by
these
dark
hints
,
”
cried
Thorneycroft
.
“
What
is
to
be
done
?
”
“
I
shall
know
in
a
few
hours
,
”
replied
Ginger
.
“
I
ain’t
got
the
exact
clue
yet
.
But
come
to
me
at
eleven
o’clock
to-night
,
at
the
Turk’s
Head
,
at
the
back
o’
Shoreditch
Church
,
and
I’ll
put
you
on
the
right
scent
.
You
must
come
alone
.
”
“
I
should
wish
this
gentleman
,
my
brother-in-law
,
to
accompany
me
,
”
said
Thorneycroft
.
“
He
couldn’t
help
you
,
”
replied
Ginger
.
“
I’ll
take
care
to
have
plenty
of
assistance
.
It’s
a
dangerous
bus’ness
,
and
can
only
be
managed
in
a
sartin
way
,
and
by
a
sartin
person
,
and
he’d
object
to
any
von
but
you
.
To-night
,
at
eleven
!
Good-bye
,
Old
Parr
.
Ve
shall
meet
again
ere
long
.
”
And
without
a
word
more
,
he
hurried
away
.
Chapter
11
Preparations
On
that
same
night
,
at
the
appointed
hour
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
repaired
to
Shoreditch
,
and
entering
a
narrow
street
behind
the
church
,
speedily
discovered
the
Turk’s
Head
,
at
the
door
of
which
a
hackney-coach
was
standing
.
He
was
shown
by
the
landlord
into
a
small
back
room
,
in
which
three
men
were
seated
at
a
small
table
,
smoking
,
and
drinking
gin
and
water
,
while
a
fourth
was
standing
near
the
fire
,
with
his
back
towards
the
door
.
The
latter
was
a
tall
,
powerfully
built
man
,
wrapped
in
a
rough
greatcoat
,
and
did
not
turn
round
on
the
iron-merchant’s
entrance
.
“
You
are
punctual
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
”
said
Ginger
,
who
was
one
of
the
trio
at
the
table
;
“
and
I’m
happy
to
say
,
I’ve
arranged
everythin’
for
you
,
sir
.
My
friends
are
ready
to
undertake
the
job
.
Only
they
von’t
do
it
on
quite
sich
easy
terms
as
mine
.
”
The
Tinker
and
the
Sandman
coughed
slightly
,
to
intimate
their
entire
concurrence
in
Mr.
Ginger’s
remark
.
“
As
I
said
to
you
this
mornin’
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
”
pursued
Ginger
,
“
this
is
a
difficult
and
a
dangerous
bus’ness
,
and
there’s
no
knowin’
wot
may
come
on
it
.
But
it’s
your
only
chance
o’
recoverin’
your
darter
.
”
“
Yes
,
it’s
your
only
chance
,
”
echoed
the
Tinker
.
“
Ve’re
about
to
risk
our
precious
lives
for
you
,
sir
,
”
said
the
Sandman
;
“
so
,
in
coorse
,
ve
expects
a
perportionate
revard
.
”
“
If
you
enable
me
to
regain
my
daughter
,
you
shall
not
find
me
ungrateful
,
”
rejoined
the
iron-merchant
.
“
I
must
have
a
hundred
pounds
,
”
said
the
Tinker
—
“
that’s
my
lowest
.
”
“
And
mine
,
too
,
”
said
the
Sandman
.
“
I
shall
take
nuffin’
but
the
glory
,
as
I
said
afore
,
”
remarked
Ginger
.
“
I’m
sworn
champion
o’
poor
distressed
young
damsils
;
but
my
friends
must
make
their
own
bargins
.
”
“
Well
,
I
assent
,
”
returned
Mr.
Thorneycroft
;
“
and
the
sooner
we
set
out
the
better
.
”
“
Are
you
armed
?
”
asked
Ginger
.
“
I
have
a
brace
of
pistols
in
my
pocket
,
”
replied
Thorneycroft
.
“
All
right
,
then
—
ve’ve
all
got
pops
and
cutlashes
,
”
said
Ginger
.
“
So
let’s
be
off
.
”
As
he
spoke
,
the
Tinker
and
Sandman
arose
;
and
the
man
in
the
rough
greatcoat
,
who
had
hitherto
remained
with
his
back
to
them
,
turned
round
.
To
the
iron-merchant’s
surprise
,
he
perceived
that
the
face
of
this
individual
was
covered
with
a
piece
of
black
crape
.
“
Who
is
this
?
”
he
demanded
with
some
misgiving
.
“
A
friend
,
”
replied
Ginger
.
“
Vithout
him
ve
could
do
nuffin’
.
His
name
is
Reeks
,
and
he
is
the
chief
man
in
our
enterprise
.
”
“
He
claims
a
reward
too
,
I
suppose
?
”
said
Thorneycroft
.
“
I
will
tell
you
what
reward
I
claim
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
,
in
a
deep
stern
tone
,
“
when
all
is
over
.
Meantime
,
give
me
your
solemn
pledge
,
that
whatever
you
may
behold
to-night
,
you
will
not
divulge
it
.
”
“
I
give
it
,
”
replied
the
iron-merchant
,
“
provided
always
—
—
”
“
No
provision
,
sir
,
”
interrupted
the
other
quickly
.
“
You
must
swear
to
keep
silence
unconditionally
,
or
I
will
not
move
a
footstep
with
you
;
and
I
alone
can
guide
you
where
your
daughter
is
detained
.
”
“
Svear
,
sir
;
it
is
your
only
chance
,
”
whispered
Ginger
.
“
Well
,
if
it
must
be
,
I
do
swear
to
keep
silence
,
”
rejoined
Mr.
Thorneycroft
;
“
but
your
proceedings
appear
very
mysterious
.
”
“
The
whole
affair
is
mysterious
,
”
replied
Reeks
.
“
You
must
also
consent
to
have
a
bandage
passed
over
your
eyes
when
you
get
into
the
coach
.
”
“
Anything
more
?
”
asked
the
iron-merchant
.
“
You
must
engage
to
obey
my
orders
,
without
questioning
,
when
we
arrive
at
our
destination
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
.
“
Otherwise
,
there
is
no
chance
of
success
.
”
“
Be
it
as
you
will
,
”
returned
Thorneycroft
,
“
I
must
perforce
agree
.
”
“
All
then
is
clearly
understood
,
”
said
Reeks
,
“
and
we
can
now
set
out
.
”
Upon
this
,
Ginger
conducted
Mr.
Thorneycroft
to
the
coach
,
and
as
soon
as
the
latter
got
into
it
,
tied
a
handkerchief
tightly
over
his
eyes
.
In
this
state
Mr.
Thorneycroft
heard
the
Tinker
and
the
Sandman
take
their
places
near
him
,
but
not
remarking
the
voice
of
Reeks
,
concluded
that
he
must
have
got
outside
.
The
next
moment
,
the
coach
was
put
in
motion
,
and
rattled
over
the
stones
at
a
rapid
pace
.
It
made
many
turns
;
but
at
length
proceeded
steadily
onwards
,
while
from
the
profound
silence
around
,
and
the
greater
freshness
of
the
air
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
began
to
fancy
they
had
gained
the
country
.
Not
a
word
was
spoken
by
any
one
during
the
ride
.
After
a
while
,
the
coach
stopped
,
the
door
was
opened
,
and
Mr.
Thorneycroft
was
helped
out
.
The
iron-merchant
expected
his
bandage
would
now
be
removed
,
but
he
was
mistaken
,
for
Reeks
,
taking
his
arm
,
drew
him
along
at
a
quick
pace
.
As
they
advanced
,
the
iron-merchant’s
conductor
whispered
him
to
be
cautious
,
and
,
at
the
same
time
,
made
him
keep
close
to
a
wall
.
A
door
was
presently
opened
,
and
as
soon
as
the
party
had
passed
through
,
it
closed
.
The
bandage
was
then
removed
from
Thorneycroft’s
eyes
,
and
he
found
himself
in
a
large
and
apparently
neglected
garden
.
Though
the
sky
was
cloudy
,
there
was
light
enough
to
enable
him
to
distinguish
that
they
were
near
an
old
dilapidated
mansion
.
“
We
are
now
arrived
,
”
said
Reeks
to
the
iron-merchant
,
“
and
you
will
have
need
of
all
your
resolution
.
”
“
I
will
deliver
her
,
or
perish
in
the
attempt
,
”
said
Thorneycroft
,
taking
out
his
pistols
.
The
others
drew
their
cutlasses
.
“
Now
then
,
follow
me
,
”
said
Reeks
,
“
and
act
as
I
direct
.
”
With
this
he
struck
into
an
alley
formed
by
thick
hedges
of
privet
,
which
brought
them
to
the
back
part
of
the
house
.
Passing
through
a
door
,
he
entered
the
yard
,
and
creeping
cautiously
along
the
wall
,
reached
a
low
window
,
which
he
contrived
to
open
without
noise
.
He
then
passed
through
it
,
and
was
followed
by
the
others
.
Chapter
12
The
Chamber
of
Mystery
We
shall
now
return
to
the
night
of
Ebba’s
seizure
by
the
mysterious
stranger
.
Though
almost
deprived
of
consciousness
by
terror
,
the
poor
girl
could
distinguish
,
from
the
movements
of
her
captor
,
that
she
was
borne
down
a
flight
of
steps
,
or
some
steep
descent
,
and
then
for
a
considerable
distance
along
level
ground
.
She
was
next
placed
in
a
carriage
,
which
was
driven
with
great
swiftness
,
and
though
it
was
impossible
to
conjecture
in
what
direction
she
was
conveyed
,
it
seemed
to
her
terrified
imagination
as
if
she
were
hurried
down
a
precipice
,
and
she
expected
every
moment
to
be
dashed
in
pieces
.
At
length
the
vehicle
stopped
,
and
she
was
lifted
out
of
it
,
and
carried
along
a
winding
passage
;
after
which
,
the
creaking
of
hinges
announced
that
a
door
was
opened
.
Having
passed
through
it
,
she
was
deposited
on
a
bench
,
when
,
fright
overmastering
her
,
her
senses
completely
forsook
her
.
On
recovering
,
she
found
herself
seated
on
a
fauteuil
covered
with
black
velvet
,
in
the
midst
of
a
gloomy
chamber
of
vast
extent
,
while
beside
her
,
and
supporting
her
from
falling
,
stood
the
mysterious
and
terrible
stranger
.
He
held
a
large
goblet
filled
with
some
potent
liquid
to
her
lips
,
and
compelled
her
to
swallow
a
portion
of
it
.
The
powerful
stimulant
revived
her
,
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
produced
a
strange
excitement
,
against
which
she
struggled
with
all
her
power
.
Her
persecutor
again
held
the
goblet
towards
her
,
while
a
sardonic
smile
played
upon
his
features
.
“
Drink
!
”
he
cried
;
“
it
will
restore
you
,
and
you
have
much
to
go
through
.
”
Ebba
mechanically
took
the
cup
,
and
raised
it
to
her
lips
,
but
noticing
the
stranger’s
glance
of
exultation
,
dashed
it
to
the
ground
.
“
You
have
acted
foolishly
,
”
he
said
sternly
;
“
the
potion
would
have
done
you
good
.
”
Withdrawing
her
eyes
from
his
gaze
,
which
she
felt
exercised
an
irresistible
influence
over
her
,
Ebba
gazed
fearfully
round
the
chamber
.
It
was
vast
and
gloomy
,
and
seemed
like
the
interior
of
a
sepulchre
—
the
walls
and
ceiling
being
formed
of
black
marble
,
while
the
floor
was
paved
with
the
same
material
.
Not
far
from
where
she
sat
,
on
an
estrade
,
approached
by
a
couple
of
steps
,
stood
a
table
covered
with
black
velvet
,
on
which
was
placed
an
immense
lamp
,
fashioned
like
an
imp
supporting
a
caldron
on
his
outstretched
wings
.
In
this
lamp
were
several
burners
,
which
cast
a
lurid
light
throughout
the
chamber
.
Over
it
hung
a
cap
equally
fantastically
fashioned
.
A
dagger
,
with
a
richly
wrought
hilt
,
was
stuck
into
the
table
;
and
beside
it
lay
a
strangely
shaped
mask
,
an
open
book
,
an
antique
inkstand
,
and
a
piece
of
parchment
,
on
which
some
characters
were
inscribed
.
Opposite
these
stood
a
curiously
carved
ebony
chair
.
At
the
lower
end
of
the
room
,
which
was
slightly
elevated
above
the
rest
,
hung
a
large
black
curtain
;
and
on
the
step
,
in
the
front
of
it
,
were
placed
two
vases
of
jet
.
“
What
is
behind
that
curtain
?
”
shudderingly
demanded
Ebba
of
her
companion
.
“
You
will
see
anon
,
”
he
replied
.
“
Meanwhile
,
seat
yourself
on
that
chair
,
and
glance
at
the
writing
on
the
scroll
.
”
Ebba
did
not
move
,
but
the
stranger
took
her
hand
,
and
drew
her
to
the
seat
.
“
Read
what
is
written
on
that
paper
,
”
he
cried
imperiously
.
Ebba
glanced
at
the
document
,
and
a
shudder
passed
over
her
frame
.
“
By
this
,
”
she
cried
,
“
I
surrender
myself
,
soul
and
body
,
to
you
?
”
“
You
do
,
”
replied
the
stranger
.
“
I
have
committed
no
crime
that
can
place
me
within
the
power
of
the
Fiend
,
”
cried
Ebba
,
falling
upon
her
knees
.
“
I
call
upon
Heaven
for
protection
!
Avaunt
!
”
As
the
words
were
uttered
,
the
cap
suddenly
fell
upon
the
lamp
,
and
the
chamber
was
buried
in
profound
darkness
.
Mocking
laughter
rang
in
her
ears
,
succeeded
by
wailing
cries
inexpressibly
dreadful
to
hear
.
Ebba
continued
to
pray
fervently
for
her
own
deliverance
,
and
for
that
of
Auriol
.
In
the
midst
of
her
supplications
she
was
aroused
by
strains
of
music
of
the
most
exquisite
sweetness
,
proceeding
apparently
from
behind
the
curtain
,
and
while
listening
to
these
sounds
she
was
startled
by
a
deafening
crash
as
if
a
large
gong
had
been
stricken
.
The
cover
of
the
lamp
was
then
slowly
raised
,
and
the
burners
blazed
forth
as
before
,
while
from
the
two
vases
in
front
of
the
curtain
arose
clouds
of
incense
,
filling
the
chamber
with
stupefying
fragrance
.
Again
the
gong
was
stricken
,
and
Ebba
looked
round
towards
the
curtain
.
Above
each
vase
towered
a
gigantic
figure
,
wrapped
in
a
long
black
cloak
,
the
lower
part
of
which
was
concealed
by
the
thick
vapour
.
Hoods
,
like
the
cowls
of
monks
,
were
drawn
over
the
heads
of
these
grim
and
motionless
figures
;
mufflers
enveloped
their
chins
,
and
they
wore
masks
,
from
the
holes
of
which
gleamed
eyes
of
unearthly
brightness
.
Their
hands
were
crossed
upon
their
breasts
.
Between
them
squatted
two
other
spectral
forms
,
similarly
cloaked
,
hooded
,
and
masked
,
with
their
gleaming
eyes
fixed
upon
her
,
and
their
skinny
fingers
pointed
derisively
at
her
.
Behind
the
curtain
was
placed
a
strong
light
,
which
showed
a
wide
staircase
of
black
marble
,
leading
to
some
upper
chamber
,
and
at
the
same
time
threw
the
reflection
of
a
gigantic
figure
upon
the
drapery
,
while
a
hand
,
the
finger
of
which
pointed
towards
her
,
was
thrust
from
an
opening
between
its
folds
.
Forcibly
averting
her
gaze
,
Ebba
covered
her
eyes
with
her
hands
,
but
looking
up
again
after
a
brief
space
,
beheld
an
ebon
door
at
the
side
revolve
upon
its
hinges
,
and
give
entrance
to
three
female
figures
,
robed
in
black
,
hooded
and
veiled
,
and
having
their
hands
folded
,
in
a
melancholy
manner
,
across
their
breasts
.
Slowly
and
noiselessly
advancing
,
they
halted
within
a
few
paces
of
her
.
“
Who
and
what
are
ye
?
”
she
cried
,
wild
with
terror
.
“
The
victims
of
Auriol
!
”
replied
the
figure
on
the
right
.
“
As
we
are
,
such
will
you
be
ere
long
.
”
“
What
crime
have
you
committed
?
”
demanded
Ebba
.
“
We
have
loved
him
,
”
replied
the
second
figure
.
“
Is
that
a
crime
?
”
cried
Ebba
.
“
If
so
,
I
am
equally
culpable
with
you
.
”
“
You
will
share
our
doom
,
”
replied
the
third
figure
.
“
Heaven
have
mercy
upon
me
!
”
exclaimed
the
agonised
girl
,
dropping
upon
her
knees
.
At
this
moment
a
terrible
voice
from
behind
the
curtain
exclaimed
,
“
Sign
,
or
Auriol
is
lost
for
ever
.
”
“
I
cannot
yield
my
soul
,
even
to
save
him
,
”
cried
Ebba
distractedly
.
“
Witness
his
chastisement
,
then
,
”
cried
the
voice
.
And
as
the
words
were
uttered
,
a
side
door
was
opened
on
the
opposite
side
,
and
Auriol
was
dragged
forth
from
it
by
two
masked
personages
,
who
looked
like
familiars
of
the
Inquisition
.
“
Do
not
yield
to
the
demands
of
this
fiend
,
Ebba
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
gazing
at
her
distractedly
.
“
Will
you
save
him
before
he
is
cast
,
living
,
into
the
tomb
?
”
cried
the
voice
.
And
at
the
words
,
a
heavy
slab
of
marble
rose
slowly
from
the
floor
near
where
Ebba
sat
,
and
disclosed
a
dark
pit
beneath
.
Ebba
gazed
into
the
abyss
with
indescribable
terror
.
“
There
he
will
be
immured
,
unless
you
sign
,
”
cried
the
voice
;
“
and
,
as
he
is
immortal
,
he
will
endure
an
eternity
of
torture
.
”
“
I
cannot
save
him
so
,
but
I
may
precede
him
,
”
cried
Ebba
.
And
throwing
her
hands
aloft
,
she
flung
herself
into
the
pit
.
A
fearful
cry
resounded
through
the
chamber
.
It
broke
from
Auriol
,
who
vainly
strove
to
burst
from
those
who
held
him
,
and
precipitate
himself
after
Ebba
.
Soon
after
this
,
and
while
Auriol
was
gazing
into
the
abyss
,
a
tongue
of
blue
flame
arose
from
it
,
danced
for
a
moment
in
the
air
,
and
then
vanished
.
No
sooner
was
it
gone
than
a
figure
,
shrouded
in
black
habiliments
,
and
hooded
and
muffled
up
like
the
three
other
female
forms
,
slowly
ascended
from
the
vault
,
apparently
without
support
,
and
remained
motionless
at
its
brink
.
“
Ebba
!
”
exclaimed
Auriol
,
in
a
voice
of
despair
.
“
Is
it
you
?
”
The
figure
bowed
its
head
,
but
spoke
not
.
“
Sign
!
”
thundered
the
voice
.
“
Your
attempt
at
self-destruction
has
placed
you
wholly
in
my
power
.
Sign
!
”
At
this
injunction
,
the
figure
moved
slowly
towards
the
table
,
and
to
his
unspeakable
horror
,
Auriol
beheld
it
take
up
the
pen
and
write
upon
the
parchment
.
He
bent
forward
,
and
saw
that
the
name
inscribed
thereon
was
Ebba
Thorneycroft
.
The
groan
to
which
he
gave
utterance
was
echoed
by
a
roar
of
diabolical
laughter
.
The
figure
then
moved
slowly
away
,
and
ranged
itself
with
the
other
veiled
forms
.
“
All
is
accomplished
,
”
cried
the
voice
.
“
Away
with
him
!
”
On
this
,
a
terrible
clangour
was
heard
;
the
lights
were
extinguished
;
and
Auriol
was
dragged
through
the
doorway
from
which
he
had
been
brought
forth
.
Chapter
1
The
Tomb
of
the
Rosicrucian
On
the
night
of
the
1st
of
March
1800
,
and
at
a
late
hour
,
a
man
,
wrapped
in
a
large
horseman’s
cloak
,
and
of
strange
and
sinister
appearance
,
entered
an
old
deserted
house
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Stepney
Green
.
He
was
tall
,
carried
himself
very
erect
,
and
seemed
in
the
full
vigour
of
early
manhood
;
but
his
features
had
a
worn
and
ghastly
look
,
as
if
bearing
the
stamp
of
long-indulged
and
frightful
excesses
,
while
his
dark
gleaming
eyes
gave
him
an
expression
almost
diabolical
.
This
person
had
gained
the
house
from
a
garden
behind
it
,
and
now
stood
in
a
large
dismantled
hall
,
from
which
a
broad
oaken
staircase
,
with
curiously-carved
banisters
,
led
to
a
gallery
,
and
thence
to
the
upper
chambers
of
the
habitation
.
Nothing
could
be
more
dreary
than
the
aspect
of
the
place
.
The
richly-moulded
ceiling
was
festooned
with
spiders’
webs
,
and
in
some
places
had
fallen
in
heaps
upon
the
floor
;
the
glories
of
the
tapestry
upon
the
walls
were
obliterated
by
damps
;
the
squares
of
black
and
white
marble
,
with
which
the
hall
was
paved
,
were
loosened
,
and
quaked
beneath
the
footsteps
;
the
wide
and
empty
fireplace
yawned
like
the
mouth
of
a
cavern
;
the
bolts
of
the
closed
windows
were
rusted
in
their
sockets
;
and
the
heaps
of
dust
before
the
outer
door
proved
that
long
years
had
elapsed
since
any
one
had
passed
through
it
.
Taking
a
dark
lantern
from
beneath
his
cloak
,
the
individual
in
question
gazed
for
a
moment
around
him
,
and
then
,
with
a
sardonic
smile
playing
upon
his
features
,
directed
his
steps
towards
a
room
on
the
right
,
the
door
of
which
stood
open
.
This
chamber
,
which
was
large
and
cased
with
oak
,
was
wholly
unfurnished
,
like
the
hall
,
and
in
an
equally
dilapidated
condition
.
The
only
decoration
remaining
on
its
walls
was
the
portrait
of
a
venerable
personage
in
the
cap
and
gown
of
Henry
the
Eighth’s
time
,
painted
against
a
panel
—
a
circumstance
which
had
probably
saved
it
from
destruction
—
and
beneath
it
,
fixed
in
another
panel
,
a
plate
of
brass
,
covered
with
mystical
characters
and
symbols
,
and
inscribed
with
the
name
“
Cyprianus
de
Rougemont
,
Fra
.
R.C.
”
The
same
name
likewise
appeared
upon
a
label
beneath
the
portrait
,
with
the
date
1550.
Pausing
before
the
portrait
,
the
young
man
threw
the
light
of
the
lantern
full
upon
it
,
and
revealed
features
somewhat
resembling
his
own
in
form
,
but
of
a
severe
and
philosophic
cast
.
In
the
eyes
alone
could
be
discerned
the
peculiar
and
terrible
glimmer
which
distinguished
his
own
glances
.
After
regarding
the
portrait
for
some
time
fixedly
,
he
thus
addressed
it
:
“
Dost
hear
me
,
old
ancestor
?
”
he
cried
.
“
I
,
thy
descendant
,
Cyprian
de
Rougemont
,
call
upon
thee
to
point
out
where
thy
gold
is
hidden
?
I
know
that
thou
wert
a
brother
of
the
Rosy
Cross
—
one
of
the
illuminati
—
and
didst
penetrate
the
mysteries
of
nature
,
and
enter
the
region
of
light
.
I
know
,
also
,
that
thou
wert
buried
in
this
house
with
a
vast
treasure
;
but
though
I
have
made
diligent
search
for
it
,
and
others
have
searched
before
me
,
thy
grave
has
never
yet
been
discovered
!
Listen
to
me
!
Methought
Satan
appeared
to
me
in
a
dream
last
night
,
and
bade
me
come
hither
,
and
I
should
find
what
I
sought
.
The
conditions
he
proposed
were
,
that
I
should
either
give
him
my
own
soul
,
or
win
him
that
of
Auriol
Darcy
.
I
assented
.
I
am
here
.
Where
is
thy
treasure
?
”
After
a
pause
,
he
struck
the
portrait
with
his
clenched
hand
,
exclaiming
in
a
loud
voice
:
“
Dost
hear
me
,
I
say
,
old
ancestor
?
I
call
on
thee
to
give
me
thy
treasure
.
Dost
hear
,
I
say
?
”
And
he
repeated
the
blow
with
greater
violence
.
Disturbed
by
the
shock
,
the
brass
plate
beneath
the
picture
started
from
its
place
,
and
fell
to
the
ground
.
“
What
is
this
?
”
cried
Rougemont
,
gazing
into
the
aperture
left
by
the
plate
.
“
Ha
!
—
my
invocation
has
been
heard
!
”
And
,
snatching
up
the
lantern
,
he
discovered
,
at
the
bottom
of
a
little
recess
,
about
two
feet
deep
,
a
stone
,
with
an
iron
ring
in
the
centre
of
it
.
Uttering
a
joyful
cry
,
he
seized
the
ring
,
and
drew
the
stone
forward
without
difficulty
,
disclosing
an
open
space
beyond
it
.
“
This
,
then
,
is
the
entrance
to
my
ancestor’s
tomb
,
”
cried
Rougemont
;
“
there
can
be
no
doubt
of
it
.
The
old
Rosicrucian
has
kept
his
secret
well
;
but
the
devil
has
helped
me
to
wrest
it
from
him
.
And
now
to
procure
the
necessary
implements
,
in
case
,
as
is
not
unlikely
,
I
should
experience
further
difficulty
.
”
With
this
he
hastily
quitted
the
room
,
but
returned
almost
immediately
with
a
mallet
,
a
lever
,
and
a
pitchfork
;
armed
with
which
and
the
lantern
,
he
crept
through
the
aperture
.
This
done
,
he
found
himself
at
the
head
of
a
stone
staircase
,
which
he
descended
,
and
came
to
the
arched
entrance
of
a
vault
.
The
door
,
which
was
of
stout
oak
,
was
locked
,
but
holding
up
the
light
towards
it
,
he
read
the
following
inscription
:
“
POST
C.C.L.
ANNOS
PATEBO
,
1550.
”
“
In
two
hundred
and
fifty
years
I
shall
open
!
”
cried
Rougemont
,
“
and
the
date
1550
—
why
,
the
exact
time
is
arrived
.
Old
Cyprian
must
have
foreseen
what
would
happen
,
and
evidently
intended
to
make
me
his
heir
.
There
was
no
occasion
for
the
devil’s
interference
.
And
see
,
the
key
is
in
the
lock
.
So
!
”
And
he
turned
it
,
and
pushing
against
the
door
with
some
force
,
the
rusty
hinges
gave
way
,
and
it
fell
inwards
.
From
the
aperture
left
by
the
fallen
door
,
a
soft
and
silvery
light
streamed
forth
,
and
,
stepping
forward
,
Rougemont
found
himself
in
a
spacious
vault
,
from
the
ceiling
of
which
hung
a
large
globe
of
crystal
,
containing
in
its
heart
a
little
flame
,
which
diffused
a
radiance
,
gentle
as
that
of
the
moon
,
around
.
This
,
then
,
was
the
ever-burning
lamp
of
the
Rosicrucians
,
and
Rougemont
gazed
at
it
with
astonishment
.
Two
hundred
and
fifty
years
had
elapsed
since
that
wondrous
flame
had
been
lighted
,
and
yet
it
burnt
on
brightly
as
ever
.
Hooped
round
the
globe
was
a
serpent
with
its
tail
in
its
mouth
—
an
emblem
of
eternity
—
wrought
in
purest
gold
;
while
above
it
were
a
pair
of
silver
wings
,
in
allusion
to
the
soul
.
Massive
chains
of
the
more
costly
metal
,
fashioned
like
twisted
snakes
,
served
as
suspenders
to
the
lamp
.
But
Rougemont’s
astonishment
at
this
marvel
quickly
gave
way
to
other
feelings
,
and
he
gazed
around
the
vault
with
greedy
eyes
.
It
was
a
septilateral
chamber
,
about
eight
feet
high
,
built
of
stone
,
and
supported
by
beautifully
groined
arches
.
The
surface
of
the
masonry
was
as
smooth
and
fresh
as
if
the
chisel
had
only
just
left
it
.
In
six
of
the
corners
were
placed
large
chests
,
ornamented
with
ironwork
of
the
most
exquisite
workmanship
,
and
these
Rougemont’s
imagination
pictured
as
filled
with
inexhaustible
treasure
;
while
in
the
seventh
corner
,
near
the
door
,
was
a
beautiful
little
piece
of
monumental
sculpture
in
white
marble
,
representing
two
kneeling
and
hooded
figures
,
holding
a
veil
between
them
,
which
partly
concealed
the
entrance
to
a
small
recess
.
On
one
of
the
chests
opposite
the
monument
just
described
stood
a
strangely-formed
bottle
and
a
cup
of
antique
workmanship
,
both
encrusted
with
gems
.
The
walls
were
covered
with
circles
,
squares
,
and
diagrams
,
and
in
some
places
were
ornamented
with
grotesque
carvings
.
In
the
centre
of
the
vault
was
a
round
altar
,
of
black
marble
,
covered
with
a
plate
of
gold
,
on
which
Rougemont
read
the
following
inscription
:
“
Hoc
universi
compendium
unius
mihi
sepulcrum
feci
.
”
“
Here
,
then
,
old
Cyprian
lies
,
”
he
cried
.
And
,
prompted
by
some
irresistible
impulse
,
he
seized
the
altar
by
the
upper
rim
,
and
overthrew
it
.
The
heavy
mass
of
marble
fell
with
a
thundering
crash
,
breaking
asunder
the
flag
beneath
it
.
It
might
be
the
reverberation
of
the
vaulted
roof
,
but
a
deep
groan
seemed
to
reproach
the
young
man
for
his
sacrilege
.
Undeterred
,
however
,
by
this
warning
,
Rougemont
placed
the
point
of
the
lever
between
the
interstices
of
the
broken
stone
,
and
,
exerting
all
his
strength
,
speedily
raised
the
fragments
,
and
laid
open
the
grave
.
Within
it
,
in
the
garb
he
wore
in
life
,
with
his
white
beard
streaming
to
his
waist
,
lay
the
uncoffined
body
of
his
ancestor
,
Cyprian
de
Rougemont
.
The
corpse
had
evidently
been
carefully
embalmed
,
and
the
features
were
unchanged
by
decay
.
Upon
the
breast
,
with
the
hands
placed
over
it
,
lay
a
large
book
,
bound
in
black
vellum
,
and
fastened
with
brazen
clasps
.
Instantly
possessing
himself
of
this
mysterious-looking
volume
,
Rougemont
knelt
upon
the
nearest
chest
,
and
opened
it
.
But
he
was
disappointed
in
his
expectation
.
All
the
pages
he
examined
were
filled
with
cabalistic
characters
,
which
he
was
totally
unable
to
decipher
.
At
length
,
however
,
he
chanced
upon
one
page
the
import
of
which
he
comprehended
,
and
he
remained
for
some
time
absorbed
in
its
contemplation
,
while
an
almost
fiendish
smile
played
upon
his
features
.
“
Aha
!
”
he
exclaimed
,
closing
the
volume
,
“
I
see
now
the
cause
of
my
extraordinary
dream
.
My
ancestor’s
wondrous
power
was
of
infernal
origin
—
the
result
,
in
fact
,
of
a
compact
with
the
Prince
of
Darkness
.
But
what
care
I
for
that
?
Give
me
wealth
—
no
matter
what
source
it
comes
from
!
—
ha
!
ha
!
”
And
seizing
the
lever
,
he
broke
open
the
chest
beside
him
.
It
was
filled
with
bars
of
silver
.
The
next
he
visited
in
the
same
way
was
full
of
gold
.
The
third
was
laden
with
pearls
and
precious
stones
;
and
the
rest
contained
treasure
to
an
incalculable
amount
.
Rougemont
gazed
at
them
in
transports
of
joy
.
“
At
length
I
have
my
wish
,
”
he
cried
.
“
Boundless
wealth
,
and
therefore
boundless
power
,
is
mine
.
I
can
riot
in
pleasure
—
riot
in
vengeance
.
As
to
my
soul
,
I
will
run
the
risk
of
its
perdition
;
but
it
shall
go
hard
if
I
destroy
not
that
of
Auriol
.
His
love
of
play
and
his
passion
for
Edith
Talbot
shall
be
the
means
by
which
I
will
work
.
But
I
must
not
neglect
another
agent
which
is
offered
me
.
That
bottle
,
I
have
learnt
from
yon
volume
,
contains
an
infernal
potion
,
which
,
without
destroying
life
,
shatters
the
brain
,
and
creates
maddening
fancies
.
It
will
well
serve
my
purpose
;
and
I
thank
thee
,
Satan
,
for
the
gift
.
”
Chapter
2
The
Compact
About
two
months
after
this
occurrence
,
and
near
midnight
,
a
young
man
was
hurrying
along
Pall
Mall
,
with
a
look
of
the
wildest
despair
,
when
his
headlong
course
was
suddenly
arrested
by
a
strong
grasp
,
while
a
familiar
voice
sounded
in
his
ear
.
“
It
is
useless
to
meditate
self-destruction
,
Auriol
Darcy
,
”
cried
the
person
who
had
checked
him
.
“
If
you
find
life
a
burden
,
I
can
make
it
tolerable
to
you
.
”
Turning
round
at
the
appeal
,
Auriol
beheld
a
tall
man
,
wrapped
in
a
long
black
cloak
,
whose
sinister
features
were
well
known
to
him
.
“
Leave
me
,
Rougemont
!
”
he
cried
fiercely
.
“
I
want
no
society
—
above
all
,
not
yours
.
You
know
very
well
that
you
have
ruined
me
,
and
that
nothing
more
is
to
be
got
from
me
.
Leave
me
,
I
say
,
or
I
may
do
you
a
mischief
.
”
“
Tut
,
tut
,
Auriol
,
I
am
your
friend
!
”
replied
Rougemont
.
“
I
purpose
to
relieve
your
distress
.
”
“
Will
you
give
me
back
the
money
you
have
won
from
me
?
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Will
you
pay
my
inexorable
creditors
?
Will
you
save
me
from
a
prison
?
”
“
I
will
do
all
this
,
and
more
,
”
replied
Rougemont
.
“
I
will
make
you
one
of
the
richest
men
in
London
.
”
“
Spare
your
insulting
jests
,
sir
,
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
I
am
in
no
mood
to
bear
them
.
”
“
I
am
not
jesting
,
”
rejoined
Rougemont
.
“
Come
with
me
,
and
you
shall
be
convinced
of
my
sincerity
.
”
Auriol
at
length
assented
,
and
they
turned
into
Saint
James’s
Square
,
and
paused
before
a
magnificent
house
.
Rougemont
ascended
the
steps
.
Auriol
,
who
had
accompanied
him
almost
mechanically
,
gazed
at
him
with
astonishment
.
“
Do
you
live
here
?
”
he
inquired
.
“
Ask
no
questions
,
”
replied
Rougemont
,
