CHAPTER I
THE CELL
Mr. Thorneycroft and his companions had scarcely gained a passage in thedeserted house, which they had entered in the manner described in aprevious chapter, when they were alarmed by the sudden and furiousringing of a bell overhead. The noise brought them instantly to a halt,and each man grasped his arms in expectation of an attack, but the pealceasing in a few moments, and all continuing quiet, they moved on asbefore, and presently reached a large hall with a lofty window over thedoor, which, being without shutters, afforded light enough to reveal thedilapidated condition of the mansion.
From this hall four side doors opened, apparently communicating withdifferent chambers, three of which were cautiously tried by Reeks, butthey proved to be fastened. The fourth, however, yielded to his touch,and admitted them to a chamber, which seemed to have been recentlyoccupied, for a lamp was burning within it. The walls were panelled withdusky oak, and hung at the lower end with tapestry, representing theAssyrian monarch Ninus, and his captive Zoroaster, King of theBactrians. The chief furniture consisted of three large high-backed andgrotesquely-carved arm-chairs, near one of which stood a powerfulelectrical machine. Squares and circles were traced upon the floor, andhere and there were scattered cups and balls, and other mattersapparently belonging to a conjuring apparatus.
The room might be the retreat of a man of science, or it might be therepository of a juggler. But whoever its occupant was, and whatsoeverhis pursuits, the good things of the world were not altogether neglectedby him, as was proved by a table spread with viands, and furnished withglasses, together with a couple of taper-necked bottles.
While glancing upwards, Mr. Thorneycroft remarked that just above eachchair the ceiling was pierced with a round hole, the meaning of which hecould not at the time comprehend, though after circumstancessufficiently explained it to him.
"A singular room," he observed to Reeks, on concluding his survey. "Didyou expect to find any one here?"
"I hardly know," replied the other. "That bell may have given the alarm.But I will soon ascertain the point. Remain here till I return."
"You are not going to leave us?" rejoined Mr. Thorneycroft uneasily.
"Only for a moment," said Reeks. "Keep quiet, and no harm will befallyou. Whatever you may hear without, do not stir."
"What are we likely to hear?" asked Thorneycroft with increasingtrepidation.
"That's impossible to say," answered Reeks; "but I warn you not to cryout unnecessarily, as such an imprudence would endanger our safety."
"You are quite sure you don't mean to abandon us?" persistedThorneycroft.
"Make yourself easy; I have no such intention," rejoined Reeks sternly.
"Oh! ve'll take care on you, don't be afeerd, old gent," said Ginger.
"Yes, ve'll take care on you," added the Tinker and the Sandman.
"You may depend upon them as upon me, sir," said Reeks. "Before weexplore the subterranean apartments, I wish to see whether any one isup-stairs."
"Wot's that you say about subterranean apartments, Mr. Reeks?"interposed Ginger. "Ve ain't a-goin' below, eh?"
But without paying any attention to the inquiry, Reeks quitted the room,and closed the door carefully after him. He next crossed the hall, andcautiously ascending a staircase at the farther end of it, reached thelanding-place. Beyond it was a gallery, from which several chambersopened.
Advancing a few paces, he listened intently, and hearing a slight soundin an apartment to the right, he stepped softly towards it, and placinghis eye to the keyhole, beheld a tall man, dressed in black, pacing toand fro with rapid strides, while three other persons, wrapped in sablegowns, and disguised with hideous masks, stood silent and motionless ata little distance from him. In the tall man he recognised CyprianRougemont. Upon a table in the middle of the room was laid a large openvolume, bound in black vellum. Near it stood a lamp, which served toillumine the scene.
Suddenly, Rougemont stopped, and turning over several leaves of thebook, which were covered with cabalistic characters, appeared in searchof some magic formula. Before he could find it, however, a startlinginterruption occurred. An alarum-bell, fixed against the wall, began toring, and at the same moment the doors of a cabinet flew open, and alarge ape (for such it seemed to Reeks), clothed in a woollen shirt anddrawers, sprang forth, and bounding upon the table beside Rougemont,placed its mouth to his ear. The communication thus strangely madeseemed highly displeasing to Rougemont, who knitted his brows, anddelivered some instructions in an undertone to the monkey. The animalnodded its head in token of obedience, jumped off the table, and boundedback to the cabinet, the doors of which closed as before. Rougemont nexttook up the lamp, with the evident intention of quitting the room,seeing which, Reeks hastily retreated to an adjoining chamber, the doorof which was fortunately open, and had scarcely gained its shelter whenthe four mysterious personages appeared on the gallery. Reeks heardtheir footsteps descending the staircase, and then, creeping cautiouslyafter them, watched them across the hall, and pause before the chambercontaining Mr. Thorneycroft and his companions. After a moment'sdeliberation, Rougemont noiselessly locked the door, took out the key,and leaving two of his attendants on guard, returned with the thirdtowards the staircase.
Without tarrying to confront them, Reeks started back, and hurried alongthe gallery till he came to a back staircase, which conducted him, byvarious descents, to the basement floor, where, after traversing one ortwo vaults, he entered a subterranean passage, arched overhead, andhaving several openings at the sides, apparently communicating withother passages. It was lighted at intervals by lamps, which emitted afeeble radiance.
By the light of one of these, Reeks discovered the door of a cell. Itwas of iron, and as he struck it with his hand, returned a hollowclangour. On repeating the blow, a hoarse voice from within cried,"Leave me in peace!"
"Is it Auriol Darcy who speaks?" demanded Reeks.
"It is," replied the prisoner. "Who are you that put the question?"
"A friend," replied Reeks.
"I have no friend here," said Auriol.
"You are mistaken," rejoined Reeks. "I have come with Mr. Thorneycroftto deliver you."
"Mr. Thorneycroft has come too late. He has lost his daughter," repliedAuriol.
"What has happened to her?" demanded Reeks.
"She is in the power of the Fiend," replied Auriol.
"I know she is detained by Cyprian Rougemont," said Reeks. "But what hasbefallen her?"
"She has become like his other victims--like _my_ victims!" cried Aurioldistractedly.
"Do not despair," rejoined Reeks. "She may yet be saved."
"Saved! how?" cried Auriol. "All is over."
"So it may seem to you," rejoined Reeks; "but you are the victim ofdelusion."
"Oh that I could think so!" exclaimed Auriol. "But no--I saw her fallinto the pit. I beheld her veiled figure rise from it. I witnessed hersignature to the fatal scroll. There could be no illusion in what I thenbeheld."
"Despite all this, you will see her again," said Reeks.
"Who are you who give me this promise?" asked Auriol.
"As I have already declared, a friend," replied Reeks.
"Are you human?"
"As yourself."
"Then you seek in vain to struggle with the powers of darkness," saidAuriol.
"I have no fear of Cyprian Rougemont," rejoined Reeks, with a laugh.
"Your voice seems familiar to me," said Auriol. "Tell me who you are?"
"You shall know anon," replied Reeks. "But, hist!--we are interrupted.Some one approaches."