Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/98

82 as I returned I felt the hot wax drip on my naked hand as the candle swayed to and fro; so that I cannot afford to despise Colonel Sapt for his agitation.

I came to the door of the cellar. The red stain, turning more and more to a dull brown, stretched inside. I walked two yards into the cellar, and held the candle high above my head. I saw the full bins of wine; I saw spiders crawling on the walls; I saw, too, a couple of empty bottles lying on the floor; and then, away in the corner, I saw the body of a man, lying flat on his back, with his arms stretched wide, and a crimson gash across his throat. I walked to him and knelt down beside him, and commended to God the soul of a faithful man. For it was the body of Josef, the little servant, slain in guarding the king.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turning, saw Sapt's eyes, glaring and terror-struck, beside me.

"The king! My God! the king!" he whispered hoarsely.

I threw the candle's gleam over every inch of the cellar.

"The king is not here," said I.