Suddenly, Rougemont stopped, and turning over several leaves of the
book, which were covered with cabalistic characters, appeared in search
of some magic formula. Before he could find it, however, a startling
interruption occurred. An alarum-bell, fixed against the wall, began to
ring, and at the same moment the doors of a cabinet flew open, and a
large ape (for such it seemed to Reeks), clothed in a woollen shirt and
drawers, sprang forth, and bounding upon the table beside Rougemont,
placed its mouth to his ear. The communication thus strangely made
seemed highly displeasing to Rougemont, who knitted his brows, and
delivered some instructions in an undertone to the monkey. The animal
nodded its head in token of obedience, jumped off the table, and bounded
back to the cabinet, the doors of which closed as before. Rougemont next
took up the lamp, with the evident intention of quitting the room,
seeing which, Reeks hastily retreated to an adjoining chamber, the door
of which was fortunately open, and had scarcely gained its shelter when
the four mysterious personages appeared on the gallery. Reeks heard
their footsteps descending the staircase, and then, creeping cautiously
after them, watched them across the hall, and pause before the chamber
containing Mr. Thorneycroft and his companions. After a moment's
deliberation, Rougemont noiselessly locked the door, took out the key,
and leaving two of his attendants on guard, returned with the third
towards the staircase. Without tarrying to confront them, Reeks started back, and hurried along
the gallery till he came to a back staircase, which conducted him, by
various descents, to the basement floor, where, after traversing one or
two vaults, he entered a subterranean passage, arched overhead, and
having several openings at the sides, apparently communicating with
other passages. It was lighted at intervals by lamps, which emitted a
feeble radiance. By the light of one of these, Reeks discovered the door of a cell. It
was of iron, and as he struck it with his hand, returned a hollow
clangour. 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. Thorneycroft
to deliver you." "Mr. Thorneycroft has come too late. He has lost his daughter," replied
Auriol. "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 has
befallen her?" "She has become like his other victims--like _my_ victims!" cried Auriol
distractedly. "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 of
delusion." "Oh that I could think so!" exclaimed Auriol. "But no--I saw her fall
into the pit. I beheld her veiled figure rise from it. I witnessed her
signature to the fatal scroll. There could be no illusion in what I then
beheld." "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," said
Auriol. "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." CHAPTER II

THE ENCHANTED CHAIRS


More than ten minutes had elapsed since Reeks' departure, and Mr.
Thorneycroft, who had hitherto had some difficulty in repressing his
anger, now began to give vent to it in muttered threats and complaints. His impatience was shared by the Tinker, who, stepping up to Ginger,
said--

"Wot the devil can Mr. Reeks be about? I hope nuffin' has happened to
him." "Don't mention a certain gent's name here," remarked Ginger; "or if you
do, treat it vith proper respect." "Pshaw!" exclaimed the Tinker impatiently; "I don't like a man stayin'
avay in this manner. It looks suspicious. I wotes ve goes and sees arter
him. Ve can leave the old gent to take a keviet nap by himself. Don't
disturb yourself, sir. Ve'll only jist giv' a look about us, and then
come back." "Stay where you are, rascal!" cried Thorneycroft angrily. "I won't be
left. Stay where you are, I command you!" "Vell, ve've got a noo captain, I'm a-thinkin'," said the Tinker,
winking at the others. "Ve've no vish to disobleege you, sir. I'll only
jist peep out into the hall, and see if Mr. Reeks is anyvhere
thereabouts. Vy, zounds!" he added, as he tried the door, "it's
locked!" "What's locked?" cried Thorneycroft in dismay. "The door, to be sure," replied the Tinker. "Ve're prisoners." "O Lord, you don't say so!" cried the iron-merchant in an agony of
fright. "What will become of us?" A roar of laughter from the others converted his terror into fury. "I see how it is," he cried. "You have entrapped me, ruffians. It's all
a trick. You mean to murder me. But I'll sell my life dearly. The first
who approaches shall have his brains blown out." And as he spoke, he
levelled a pistol at the Tinker's head. "Holloa! wot are you arter, sir?" cried that individual, sheltering his
head with his hands. "You're a-labourin' under a mistake--a complete
mistake. If it is a trap, ve're catched in it as vell as yourself." "To be sure ve is," added the Sandman. "Sit down, and vait a bit. I
dessay Mr. Reeks'll come back, and it von't do no good gettin' into a
passion." "Well, well, I must resign myself, I suppose," groaned Thorneycroft,
sinking into a chair. "It's a terrible situation to be placed in--shut
up in a haunted house." "I've been in many much vurser sitivations," observed Ginger, "and I
alvays found the best vay to get out on 'em wos to take things quietly." "Besides, there's no help for it," said the Tinker, seating himself. "That remains to be seen," observed the Sandman, taking the chair
opposite Thorneycroft. "If Reeks don't come back soon, I'll bust open
the door." "Plenty o' time for that," said Ginger, sauntering towards the table on
which the provisions were spread; "wot do you say to a mouthful o'
wittles?" "I wouldn't touch 'em for the world," replied the Sandman. "Nor I," added the Tinker; "they may be pisoned." "Pisoned--nonsense!" cried Ginger; "don't you see some von has been
a-takin' his supper here? I'll jist finish it for him." "Vith all my 'art," said the Tinker. "Don't touch it on any account," cried Mr. Thorneycroft. "I agree with
your companions, it may be poisoned." "Oh! I ain't afeerd," cried Ginger, helping himself to a dish before
him. "As good a pigeon-pie as ever I tasted.