on, on and on, along what seemed to be an interminable distance,
for not a glimmer of light could be seen under the tight folds of
the bandage across his eyes. Presently the earth shook under him,-
-some heavy substance was moved, and there was another booming
thunderous noise, accompanied by the falling of chains.

"C'est l'escalier de Madame la Princesse!" said the Nubian. "Pres
de la chambre nuptiale! Descendez! Vite!"

Down--down! Resistance was useless, even had he cared to resist,
for he felt as though twenty pairs of hands instead of one were
pushing him violently on all sides; down, still down he went,
dumb, blind and helpless, till at last he was allowed to stop and
breathe. His arms were released, the bandage was taken from his
eyes, the gag from his mouth--he was free! Free--yes! but where?
Thick darkness encompassed him; he stretched out his hands in the
murky atmosphere and felt nothing.

"Ziska!" he cried.

The name sprang up against the silence and struck out numberless
echoes, and with the echoes came a shuddering sigh, that was not
of them, whispering:

"Charmazel!"

Gervase heard it, and a deadly fear, born of the supernatural,
possessed him.

"Ziska! Ziska!" he called again wildly.