[Illustration: "OVER HIS SHOULDERS HE CARRIED SOMETHING LIMP, LIKE AN EMPTY SKIN, OR A BUNDLE OF CLOTHES TIED TOGETHER."]
Oliver stood spellbound, horrified, watching Gaspard as he descended the steep flight of steps, bearing that ghastly burden. As the clever servant passed under the dull light of the lamp below he turned his head and looked up. His mouth gaped wide with impish, noiseless laughter; he thrust his tongue into his cheek, and with an ugly leer and wink of one of his black, bead-like eyes, he passed by and down the steps beyond, the feet of the figure clicking from step to step behind him.
Oliver watched him until he reached the bottom of the steps and passed out from the house into the night beyond; there was the bang of a closing door, and then dead silence.
The next moment Oliver was at the door of the room wherein Céleste was confined. "Céleste!" he screamed, "for God's sake, come! Leave this awful place!"
"What is it?" answered Céleste from within. "Am I then saved?"
"Yes," cried Oliver, in the same shrill voice, "you are saved! But come! come!"
"But the door," said Céleste. "It is locked, Oliver."
"Ah, peste! I had forgotten. Stand away from it." As he spoke, he rushed against the door, flinging himself bodily upon it. It shook, but did not open. Again he dashed himself against it, and this time with better success. The lock snapped, and as it flew open inward Oliver plunged headlong into the room beyond.
Céleste stood, white and terrified, in the middle of the floor. "But am I indeed saved?" said she. "Where, then, is Monsieur de St. Germaine?"
"Do not ask me, Céleste," cried Oliver, hoarsely. "Come!"
As they passed through the room beyond, Céleste looked up into his face.
"What is it?" she cried. "What has happened, Oliver? Tell me."
But Oliver could not answer; he only shook his head.
Upon the landing without, Céleste suddenly stopped and laid her hand upon his arm. "Hark!" said she. "What is that?"
Oliver listened breathlessly. A dull, monotonous sobbing sounded through the house. It came from the apartment above.
"Oh, Oliver!" cried Céleste, "go and see what it is."
Oliver shook his head. "I cannot go," said he, huskily. "I am afraid. You do not know, Céleste, what an awful place this is! If you had seen what I have just beheld--"