Suddenly as I stood thus, nigh choked with the foul air of the place and full of misgiving, I heard a groaning sigh, and from the shadow of a remote corner a figure reared itself upon its knees to peer under palsied hand with eyes that blinked as if dazzled by this poor light.
"So young--so young--oh, pity! God be merciful to thee--alas, what do you in this place of torment and living death--young sir?"
Now this voice was pitifully cracked and feeble, yet the words were English, wherefore I caught up the lanthorn and coming nearer, set it down where I might better behold the speaker.
"So young--so young! What dost thou among the living dead?"
"I come seeking Sir Richard Brandon!"
Now from the dim figure before me broke a sound that was neither scream nor laughter yet something of both. I saw wild hands upcast to the gloom above, a shrunken, pallid face, the gleam of snow-white hair.
"Oh, God of mercies--oh, God of Justice--at last, oh, God--at last!"
Stooping, I dragged him to the light and found myself suddenly a-trembling so violently that he shook in my gripe.
"What--what mean you?" I cried.
"That I--I am Richard Brandon."
"Liar!" I cried, shaking him. "Damned liar!"
And yet, looking down upon this old, withered creature who crouched before me on feeble knees, his shrivelled hands clasped and haggard face uplifted, I knew that he spoke truth, and uttering a great and bitter cry, I cast him from me, for here, in place of my proud and masterful enemy, the man I had hated for his fierce and arrogant spirit, God had given to my vengeance at last no more than this miserable thing, this poor, pale shadow. Wherefore now I cast myself down upon my face, beating the floor with my shackled fists and blaspheming my God like the very madman I was.