"Whether my crimes are real or imaginary--whether I snatched the cup of
immortality from my grandsire's dying lips--whether I signed a compact
with the Fiend, and delivered him a victim on each tenth year--I cannot
now know; but if it is so, I deeply, bitterly regret them, and would
expiate my offences by a life of penance." At this moment Rougemont, attired in a dress similar to that of the
prisoner, marched up the steps, and cried, "What ho, Auriol!--Auriol
Darcy!" "Who speaks?" demanded Auriol. "Ah! is it you, Fiend?" "What, you are still in your old fancies," rejoined Rougemont. "I
thought the draught I gave you last night would have amended you." "Tell me who and what I am," cried Auriol, stupefied with astonishment;
"in what age I am living; and whether I am in my right mind or not?" "For the first, you are called Auriol Darcy," replied Rougemont; "for
the second, you are living in the reign of his most Catholic Majesty
James I. of England, and Sixth of Scotland; and for the third, I trust
you will soon recover your reason." "Amazement!" cried Auriol, striking his brow with his clenched hand. "Then I _am_ mad." "It's plain your reason is returning, since you are conscious of your
condition," replied Rougemont; "but calm yourself, you have been subject
to raging frenzies." "And I have been shut up here for safety?" demanded Auriol. "Precisely," observed the other. "And you are----"

"Your keeper," replied Rougemont. "My God! what a brain mine must be!" cried Auriol. "Answer me one
question--Is there such a person as Ebba Thorneycroft?" "You have often raved about her," replied Rougemont. "But she is a mere
creature of the imagination." Auriol groaned, and sank against the wall. "Since you have become so reasonable, you shall again go forth into the
world," said Rougemont; "but the first essay must be made at night, for
fear of attracting observation. I will come to you again a few hours
hence. Farewell for the present." And casting a sinister glance at his captive, he turned upon his heel,
descended the steps, and quitted the cell. CHAPTER VI

DOCTOR LAMB AGAIN


Night came, and the cell grew profoundly dark. Auriol became impatient
for the appearance of his keeper, but hour after hour passed and he did
not arrive. Worn out, at length, with doubt and bewildering
speculations, the miserable captive was beset with the desire to put an
end to his torments by suicide, and he determined to execute his fell
purpose without delay. An evil chance seemed also to befriend him, for
scarcely was the idea formed, than his foot encountered something on the
ground, the rattling of which attracted his attention, and stooping to
take it up, he grasped the bare blade of a knife. "This will, at all events, solve my doubts," he cried aloud. "I will
sheathe this weapon in my heart, and, if I am mortal, my woes will be
ended." As he spoke, he placed the point to his breast with the full intent to
strike, but before he could inflict the slightest wound, his arm was
forcibly arrested. "Would you destroy yourself, madman?" roared a voice. "I thought your
violence was abated, and that you might go forth in safety. But I find
you are worse than ever." Auriol uttered a groan and let the knife fall to the ground. The
new-comer kicked it to a distance with his foot. "You shall be removed to another chamber," he pursued, "where you can be
more strictly watched." "Take me forth--oh! take me forth," cried Auriol. "It was a mere impulse
of desperation, which I now repent." "I dare not trust you. You will commit some act of insane fury, for
which I myself shall have to bear the blame. When I yielded to your
entreaties on a former occasion, and took you forth, I narrowly
prevented you from doing all we met a mischief." "I have no recollection of any such circumstance," returned Auriol
mournfully. "But it may be true, nevertheless. And if so, it only proves
the lamentable condition to which I am reduced--memory and reason gone!" "Ay, both gone," cried the other, with an irrepressible chuckle. "Ha!" exclaimed Auriol, starting. "I am not so mad but I recognise in
you the Evil Being who tempted me. I am not so oblivious as to forget
our terrible interviews." "What, you are in your lunes again!" cried Rougemont fiercely. "Nay,
then I must call my assistants, and bind you." "Let me be--let me be!" implored Auriol, "and I will offend you no more. Whatever thoughts may arise within me, I will not give utterance to
them. Only take me forth." "I came for that purpose," said Rougemont; "but I repeat, I dare not. You are not sufficiently master of yourself." "Try me," said Auriol. "Well," rejoined the other, "I will see what I can do to calm you." So saying, he disappeared for a few moments, and then returning with a
torch, placed it on the ground, and producing a phial, handed it to the
captive. "Drink!" he said. Without a moment's hesitation Auriol complied. "It seems to me rather a stimulant than a soothing potion," he remarked,
after emptying the phial. "You are in no condition to judge," rejoined the other. And he proceeded to unfasten Auriol's chain. "Now then, come with me," he said, "and do not make any attempt at
evasion, or you will rue it." Like one in a dream, Auriol followed his conductor down the flight of
stone steps leading from the dungeon, and along a narrow passage. As he
proceeded, he thought he heard stealthy footsteps behind him; but he
never turned his head, to see whether he was really followed. In this
way they reached a short steep staircase, and mounting it, entered a
vault, in which Rougemont paused, and placed the torch he had brought
with him upon the floor. Its lurid glimmer partially illumined the
chamber, and showed that it was built of stone. Rude benches of antique
form were set about the vault, and motioning Auriol to be seated upon
one of them, Rougemont sounded a silver whistle. The summons was shortly
afterwards answered by the dwarf, in whose attire a new change had
taken place. He was now clothed in a jerkin of grey serge, fashioned
like the garments worn by the common people in Elizabeth's reign, and
wore a trencher-cap on his head. Auriol watched him as he timidly
advanced towards Rougemont, and had an indistinct recollection of having
seen him before; but could not call to mind how or where. "Is your master a-bed?" demanded Rougemont. "A-bed! Good lack, sir!" exclaimed the dwarf, "little of sleep knows
Doctor Lamb. He will toil at the furnace till the stars have set." "Doctor Lamb!" repeated Auriol. "Surely I have heard that name before?" "Very likely," replied Rougemont, "for it is the name borne by your
nearest kinsman." "How is the poor young gentleman?" asked the dwarf, glancing
commiseratingly at Auriol. "My master often makes inquiries after his
grandson, and grieves that the state of his mind should render it
necessary to confine him." "His grandson! I--Doctor Lamb's grandson!" cried Auriol. "In sooth are you, young sir," returned the dwarf.