The cold sigh seemed to linger about him
as he went--gruesome as from a closed depth, the secret bosom of the
castle, into which the light never entered. But, wherever it came
from last, however earthy and fearful, it came first from the open
regions of life, and had but passed through a gloom that life itself
must pass! Could it have been a draught down the pipe of the
music-chords? No, for they would have loosed some light-winged
messenger with it! He must search till he found its entrance below!
He crossed the little gallery, descended, and went again into the
chapel: it lay as still as the tomb which it was no more. He seemed
to miss the presence of the dead, and feel the place deserted. All
round its walls, as far as he could reach or see, he searched
carefully, but could perceive no sign of possible entrance for the
messenger blast. It came again!--plainly through the open door under
the windows. He went again into the passage outside the wall, and
the moment he turned into it, the draught seemed to come from
beneath, blowing upwards. He stooped to examine; his candle was
again extinguished. Once more he relighted it. Searching then along
the floor and the foot of the walls, he presently found, in the wall
of the chapel itself, close to the ground, a narrow horizontal
opening: it must pass under the floor of the chapel! All he saw was
a mere slit, but the opening might be larger, and partially covered
by the flooring-slab, which went all the length of the slit! He
would try to raise it! That would want a crowbar! but having got so
far, he would not rest till he knew more! It must be very late and
the domestics all in bed; but what hour it was he could not tell,
for he had left his watch in his room.
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