Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/69

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THE MYSTERY OF MADELINE LE BLANC.
69

"Yes."

"I thought you were never coming. You have been long," cried the creature.

"No, not thirty minutes."

"Yes, you have been hours."

"Impossible," replied Satiani. There was a tremor inhis voice. "What is that light yonder?" and he pointed toward the east.

"Monsieur, that is the dawn."

They hastened into the house and felt their way down into the cellar. Satiani laid the body on the couch and fell exhausted to the floor. The dwarf lighted a candle in the iron rack, and the glimmers fell upon two faces of deadly pallor.

"Monsieur!" cried the dwarf; but there was no reply.