The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 85 (2/2)

”I was about to make that proposal Now is the ti to the forain a little of our cleverness”

”I ah the eye of a needle, if it be necessary!” answered Bobi+chel

Goutran took a candle and led the way When they reached Jane's room Fanfar took up a position in the centre of it, exa, the floor and the walls Then Bobi+chel explored every inch of the floor, which was covered with a thick carpet But nothing could be found

”This is most extraordinary,” murmured Fanfar, ”and yet I am convinced that I am on the track”

Suddenly Bobi+chel uttered an excla, master!”

Fanfar and Goutran hastened to hi on the wall there was a bit of white lace, evidently torn fronize that,” said Goutran ”I ordered the peignoirs she required, for we did not wish to admit any one into our secrets; and that lace trinoirs”

”And noe have it!” shouted Bobi+chel, inserting the blade of his knife in one of the plaits of the silk

Fanfar said hastily, ”It is an iron door, and there

Let us try, each of us, and feel over the whole wall, if it is necessary”

They went to work, and presently Bobi+chel was lucky enough to press a little knob A panel slowly opened, and a puff of warer faces of the anxious ht of their candles they saell-finished passage and two or three stairs; it was too dark to see more

”This is the way that Jane was abducted, and this is the way that Esperance went Let us see where it goes” And Fanfar started first

Hardly had they reached the stairs than they heard the iron door close behind thee, they shuddered Had the door shut of itself, or had it been closed by some invisible enemy? They turned back hastily, but there was not the s

”What had we best do?” asked Goutran, uneasily

Fanfar reflected a o back, let us hasten forith all possible speed We will find the way out”

”Or ill make one!” cried Bobi+chel

The three friends started oncea heavy bronze candelabra

CHAPTER LX

ESPERANCE IN DESPAIR

It was indeed by this one When he heard that Jane was not to be found, he at first could hardly comprehend as said He ran to Jane's roo what he did, he left the house and then returned to it, after having wandered over Paris for two or three hours No one noticed his pallor when he entered the hotel He went to Jane's roo back in a low chair, he looked about with sad eyes

Suddenly he saw a panel slowly open in the wall He was not afraid

Esperance did not know the sensation, and now he simply expected some revelation He instantly knew that this was the path by which Jane had been taken away He rose and entered the dark corridor He had no light, and the door at once closed behind hi in the dark