Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/61

Rh cracks in the floor; and soon the chemical fumes and muttering talk began. The dwarfish person lay down before the entrance to the cellar, and slept, as the hours of the first half of the night wore on.

The cellar into which Doctor Satiani had descended and now sat, was a perfect square of about thirteen feet, walled with unhewn stone, and pierced by three openings. On two opposite sides, extending about three feet from the floor, were shelves supporting bottles, jars and pots. Along the full length of another side stood a table confusedly laden with papers, small packages, and the candle that sent its rays through the floor of the upper room. Against the remaining wall stood a clean white couch, folded up. From the massive rafters of the ceiling hung dried vegetable growths, roots, herbs and barks; and in the center descended an ancient iron candle rack. About the middle of the floor lay two heavy rings fastened by iron bands welded into the stone. Of the three narrow arches in the walls, the one beside the bottles and pots led to the stairs which