As I ascended, my feet fell noiselessly upon the thick carpet, raising
clouds of dust, the particles of which danced in the bright ray from my
lamp, like motes in a streak of sunlight. The ceiling of the hall had
been beautifully painted, but portions of it had now fallen away,
revealing ugly holes and naked laths.
The first room I entered on reaching the landing was, I discovered, the
small study into which I had been ushered on that night. It was much
cleaner than the other apartments, but, on going to the grate and
bending to examine it, I found the chimney still closed by an iron
plate, and in the fireplace there remained a quantity of burnt charcoal.
It was covered with dust, and was no doubt the same that had been used
to render me unconscious. The window, too, was shuttered and barred,
and on the door-lintel I could still trace where the crevices had been
stopped.
As I turned, after examining the room thoroughly, I saw, standing on a
small table near the window, a cheap photograph frame in carved white
wood. The portrait was of an old lady, and did not interest me, but the
frame riveted my attention. I recognised it. Across the top it had the
single word "Luchon" carved. I took it up and examined it closely.
Yes! It had belonged to Sybil. I had been with her when, attracted by
its quaintness, she had purchased it for three francs.
As I put it down there surged through my mind a flood of memories of
those pleasant bygone days. Suddenly a sound caused me to start.
Not daring to move, I listened. It was the rustle of silk! Some one
was ascending the stairs!
In an instant I blew out my light, and waited just inside the door. The
noise approached rapidly, and in a few moments a slim, graceful woman,
in an evening gown, and carrying in her hand a red-shaded lamp, passed
the door.
As she went by the crimson glow did not sufficiently illuminate her
face, but her appearance gave me a sudden start. Had she entered with
sinister design; or was this weird, neglected place her home? Thinking
only of the elucidation of the mystery that had surrounded Sybil, I
crept on noiselessly after her. Apparently she was no stranger to the
place, for, passing the first room on the left, she entered the second,
which proved to be the great drawing-room where I had once stood beside
my lost bride. Passing to the end, her thin evening shoes making no
noise on the thick dust-covered carpet, she crept like a thief to the
opposite end of the spacious apartment, and placed the lamp upon a
little table. Then, for the first time, I saw that behind it was a
door, and I crept back into the shadow so that she could not detect my
presence.
For a moment she hesitated, placing her hand upon her breast, as if to
stay the wild beating of her heart. Then, slowly and noiselessly, she
turned the handle of the door, and a flood of brilliant light streamed
forth.
She peered in, but next second drew back terrified. The scene within
the room had held her spellbound with horror, which seemed to grasp her
heart as if with icy fingers. Her trembling hands tightly clenched, she
prepared to enter. One long, deep breath she drew, and set her teeth in
desperation; but at that moment, as with her hand she pushed back the
hair from her clammy brow, her face was turned full towards the lamp.