Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/35

Rh could hear nothing except his own breathing. "It must have been a bad dream," he said to himself, and lay down again, when there came to his ear unmistaken sounds that filled him with terror, that froze his thin blood, and made him shake like one facing impending death. The noises were not loud, but continuous—a mingling of heavy steps, heaving moans, and hideous giggles.

"We are caught," he thought, springing to his feet and going to the window to look out. But the night was calm and the sound came not from without. He hurried to the room above the cellar. At every step he came nearer the horrible sounds that became louder with every succeeding gasp. Someone was choking; one by one, heavy steps came thumping up the stairs; and now and then, piercing the other noises, came a shrill laugh. A heavy figure fell upon the floor, knocking him against the wall; and from the throat of the fallen came the words, in a strange voice, "I have found it," then all was silent.

"Monsieur!" cried the dwarf, going half-way down the cellar.