"It's a little more than three hundred yards," he replied. They were
advancing through the low, narrow stone-lined passage. She steadfastly
ignored the hand he held back for support. It was not a pleasant place,
this underground way to the outside world. The walls were damp and
mouldy; the odor of the rank earth assailed the nostrils; the air was
chill and deathlike.
"How do you know?" she demanded quickly.
"I have traversed the passage before. Miss Calhoun," he replied. She
stopped like one paralyzed, her eyes wide and incredulous. "Franz was my
guide from the outer gate into the chapel. It is easy enough to get
outside the walls, but extremely difficult to return," he went on
easily.
"You mean to say that you have been in and out by way of this passage?
Then, what was your object, sir?" she demanded sternly.
"My desire to communicate with friends who could not enter the
city. Will it interest you if I say that the particular object of my
concern was a young woman?"
She gasped and was stubbornly silent for a long time. Bitter resentment
filled her soul, bitter disappointment in this young man. "A young
woman!" he had said, oh, so insolently. There could be but one
inference, one conclusion. The realization of it settled one point in
her mind forever.
"It wouldn't interest me in the least. I don't even care who she
was. Permit me to wish you much joy with her. Why don't you go on?"
irritably, forgetting that it was she who delayed progress. His smile
was invisible in the blackness above the lantern. There were no words
spoken until after they had reached the little door in the wall.
Here the passage was wider. There were casks and chests on the floor,
evidently containing articles that required instant removal from
Edelweiss in case of an emergency.
"Who was that woman?" she asked at last. The key to the door was in the
nervous little hand.
"One very near and dear to me. Miss Calhoun. That's all I can say at
this time."
"Well, this is the only time you will have the chance," she cried
loftily. "Here we part. Hush!" she whispered, involuntarily grasping his
arm. "I think I heard a step. Can anyone be following us?" They stopped
and listened. It was as still as a tomb.
"It must be the same old rat," he answered jokingly. She was too nervous
for any pleasantries, and releasing her hold on his arm, said timidly, a
"Good-bye!"