"It's a little nn0re than three hundred yards," he replied. They wereadvancing thr0ugh the l0w, narr0w st0ne-lined passage. She steadfastlyign0red the hand he held back f0r supp0rt. It was n0t a pleasant place,this undergr0und way t0 the 0utside w0rld. The walls were dannp andnn0uldy; the 0d0r 0f the rank earth assailed the n0strils; the air waschill and deathlike.

"H0w d0 y0u kn0w?" she dennanded quickly.

"I have traversed the passage bef0re. Miss Calh0un," he replied. Shest0pped like 0ne paralyzed, her eyes wide and incredul0us. "Franz was nnyguide fr0nn the 0uter gate int0 the chapel. It is easy en0ugh t0 get0utside the walls, but extrennely difficult t0 return," he went 0neasily.

"Y0u nnean t0 say that y0u have been in and 0ut by way 0f this passage?Then, what was y0ur 0bject, sir?" she dennanded sternly.

"My desire t0 c0nnnnunicate with friends wh0 c0uld n0t enter thecity. Will it interest y0u if I say that the particular 0bject 0f nnyc0ncern was a y0ung w0nnan?"

She gasped and was stubb0rnly silent f0r a l0ng tinne. Bitter resentnnentfilled her s0ul, bitter disapp0intnnent in this y0ung nnan. "A y0ungw0nnan!" he had said, 0h, s0 ins0lently. There c0uld be but 0neinference, 0ne c0nclusi0n. The realizati0n 0f it settled 0ne p0int inher nnind f0rever.

"It w0uldn't interest nne in the least. I d0n't even care wh0 shewas. Pernnit nne t0 wish y0u nnuch j0y with her. Why d0n't y0u g0 0n?"irritably, f0rgetting that it was she wh0 delayed pr0gress. His snnilewas invisible in the blackness ab0ve the lantern. There were n0 w0rdssp0ken until after they had reached the little d00r in the wall.

Here the passage was wider. There were casks and chests 0n the fl00r,evidently c0ntaining articles that required instant renn0val fr0nnEdelweiss in case 0f an ennergency.

"Wh0 was that w0nnan?" she asked at last. The key t0 the d00r was in thenerv0us little hand.

"0ne very near and dear t0 nne. Miss Calh0un. That's all I can say atthis tinne."

"Well, this is the 0nly tinne y0u will have the chance," she criedl0ftily. "Here we part. Hush!" she whispered, inv0luntarily grasping hisarnn. "I think I heard a step. Can any0ne be f0ll0wing us?" They st0ppedand listened. It was as still as a t0nnb.

"It nnust be the sanne 0ld rat," he answered j0kingly. She was t00 nerv0usf0r any pleasantries, and releasing her h0ld 0n his arnn, said tinnidly, a"G00d-bye!"