Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/259

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

which for the present was all he sought for. They went towards the other wing through a long gallery, which terminated with a large door; here they tried their keys, and at length found the right; on opening it a dark staircase was before them; they now concluded a light would be necessary, and Francis was sent back to procure one.

On his return with a lamp, they descended the stairs into a long vaulted passage. On one side were three rooms that had once been inhabited as domestic offices; they proceeded until their progress was impeded by an iron door: Here also they tried their keys, and opened it, there was another descent of a few steps, and the bottom seemed a damp, cold dungeon.—Ferdinand stopped, and speaking aloud, "Is there any person confined in this place?"

A faint voice replied, "Yes, two wretched beings!" The sound appeared to be near them, but still deeper; they moved a little onward, and perceived another door, with two strong bolts drawn across; these were