Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/62

62 Satiani had descended; the other two, in the walls corresponding to the front and back of the house, led into narrow passages that ended in arched stone chambers exactly alike. An iron door closed a passage that led from each of these—but whither Satiani did not know. He had not had time to explore. Once he had opened one of these, and found that indeed it led somewhere; but it was too dark to see.

As it now approached the hour of eleven, he sat crouched before the table, babbling to himself and watching the steaming and bubbling in an iron pot that was perched on a tripod above the blue flame of a spirit lamp. Presently he arose, walked to the stairs, and made a hissing noise.

"Yes," answered the dwarf, who was on his feet in an instant.

"Go round the house and see if all is clear." Satiani returned to the table, extinguished the flame of the spirit lamp, and poured the contents of the iron pot into a broad vessel. He was nervous and looked frequently at his watch.

In a short time the dwarf returned, and