The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 91 (2/2)
”There is an iron door under the silk”
”I knew it!” Coucon exclaian to tear it off when you came”
They pulled off the silk, and suddenly Coucon exclai what he was doing, Coucon pressed the knob, and the panel flew open so quickly that Coucon was nearly knocked over ”Take the light and come!” he shouted
Carh the door
It will be remembered what happened when Goutran and his friends entered the passage When their feet touched the stairs the panel closed In fact, a secret mechanism connected the first stair with the iron door
Those who did not know it became prisoners at once, while others simply stepped over this stair, and so left the iron panel open But neither Coucon nor the others knew this Doent Coucon's foot in the wrong place, and the panel swung to At the same moment Fanfar, Goutran and Bobi+chel appeared They had been guided by the light
”Goutran!” cried Car toward him
”What! is it you who has delivered us?”
They went back all together, to find themselves prisoners? No, for Coucon had dropped the ha the door fro on the stair was touched They were saved!
In Jane's room they held a consultation Carmen communicated what she had heard, and showed the note she had taken froy
”But where is the place he speaks of?” asked Fanfar
”I can show you,” she said, quietly
Coucon ran to the stables, and in ten rant that we arrive in time!” said Fanfar
Alas! it was a vain hope Much time had been lost while the three men had been shut up Their candles had burned out Fanfar tore a rail froan to sound the wall, and suddenly they heard themselves answered, but all the time they were at a loss to understand how they had been able to establish such prompt communication But this was no tiht of was Esperance The carriage was driven at full speed toward Courberrie
CHAPTER LXVI
UNITED IN DEATH
Benedetto entered He was now the escaped convict, neither more nor less On his lips was a hideous smile He had attained his aim at last--he had in his power the son of the e eet
Esperance held Jane in his arms, and merely turned his head toward Benedetto
”Who are you?” he cried ”I know you not, but if you are not the basest of the base, you will aid me to make my escape from this terrible place, and enable me to take this poor child with me”
”No, sir!” answered Benedetto, slowly ”I will not aid you to escape, and you will not save this woman”
”Ah! I understand you You are the accomplice of these scoundrels Very well; I will make a way for myself”