The Mouth of Hell by Alexandre Dumas (Illustrated) by Alexandre Dumas

Author:Alexandre Dumas [DUMAS, ALEXANDRE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Parts Edition 23 of 43 by Delphi Classics
Publisher: Delphi Classics (Parts Edition)
Published: 2017-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE DOUBLE CASTLE.

SAMUEL bolted the doors, then returned to Julius.

“Now then!” said he, “I hope that you are not going to express surprise like your wife at the simplest things. I implore you not to be astonished. This is the place for the ‘nil admirari’ which we learnt at college.”

“Well and good! “Julius said, smiling. “Besides, with you, I am always prepared for surprises, and I expect nothing but the unexpected.”

“My dear Julius,” rejoined Samuel, “to begin with you must know that in your absence I have dabbled, as usual, a little in everything; a little in medicine, a little in architecture, a little in politics, a little in geology, a little in botany, etc. A little in medicine? You saw how I discovered that the illness of your child could be traced to his nurse. A little in architecture? you are going to have a specimen of my skill, and you will acknowledge that the architect is as clever as the doctor, unless you deem it more wonderful to preserve a child from death, than to resuscitate a dead period.”

“What do you mean? “Julius asked.

“Let me first show you a repetition of the secret in the next room,” said Samuel.

He went to a corner of the library. A lion carved in the wood-work gaped, with jaws wide open. Samuel placed his finger on the tongue of the lion, a panel slid back, revealing the wall. A button appeared. Samuel pressed it and the wall revolved, disclosing a passage large enough for a man to pass through.

“Now, follow me!” said Samuel to Tulius, who stood amazed. “You know but the half of your castle, lucky owner! I am going to show you the other half.”

“Are we to enter that way? “Julius asked.

“Of course. Pass in first, that I may restore the library to order, and close the door.”

Julius passed in and the door being closed, they found themselves in total darkness.

“I cannot see a bit,” Julius said, laughing. “What devilish witchcraft is this?”

“That’s good! you are slightly astonished, but not in the least alarmed. Give me your hand. Right. I will lead you. This way. Be careful, we are at the top of the staircase. Hold the cord firmly. A hundred and thirty-two steps to go down; it is quite easy; the staircase winds.”

They descended cautiously in the dark, inhaling the damp, cold moisture of depths to which air does not penetrate.

At the forty-fourth step, Samuel stopped:

“Here we come to the first iron door,” said he.

The door opened and closed, they continued to descend.

“After the next forty-four steps, Samuel stopped again.

“Another door!” said he.

At length, after descending the last forty-four steps and passing through the third door, the light suddenly burst on Julius’ sight.

“We have arrived,” said Samuel.

They were in a circular room, lighted by a lamp which hung from the ceiling. This room was about ten feet in diameter. No woodwork, nothing but stone. Under the lamp stood a black table with chairs placed round it.

“Let us sit down and talk,” said Samuel.

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