"'Yes,' said Raymond. "Agnes paused for an instant. 'Then take me there, Raymond,' said she. "For a moment or two Raymond could not speak for surprise. 'What?' he cried. 'Take you there? Take you there now, at this time?' "'Yes, now.' "'Agnes, I do not understand.' "'It is of no importance that you should understand,' said she; 'only I have something to show you there that you have not yet seen, and of which you know nothing.' "You know the path they took, Oliver; you yourself walked along it at my heels the other day. Agnes and Raymond traversed that same passage, descended the same stair that you descended, entered the vault that you entered. There Raymond Lulli unlocked the padlock and raised the trap-door as you saw Gaspard unlock the one and raise the other. He took the same lantern from the shelf within as Gaspard took it, and lit the candle as Gaspard lit it, then descending the stairs, they entered the first of the three rooms below. "Raymond lit the lamp that you found hanging there from the ceiling, and Agnes stood for a moment looking around her. The tapestries and hangings and all that you saw were fresh and beautiful then. "They entered the room beyond where were the remains of the supper that Raymond and his master had eaten the night before; the chairs by the table pushed carelessly back as they had left them, and as you, Oliver, found them. "Thence they passed through the narrow passage, and entered the laboratory beyond, where Agnes saw the two sealed phials standing upon the stone table as you saw them. "Agnes pointed with her finger towards them. 'And that,' said she--'that, then, is the precious liquor of wealth that you and my father discovered?' "'Yes,' said Raymond. "'And it can transmute charcoal to diamonds?' "Raymond hesitated. 'Yes,' said he. "Agnes turned suddenly upon him. 'And tell me, Raymond,' she said, 'have you not that little crystal globe in the silver casket?' Raymond instinctively raised his hand to his breast. 'I see you have,' said she, smiling. 'It contains the secret of life?' "Raymond nodded his head. "There was a pause; then Raymond said, in a hoarse voice, 'Why do you question me thus, Agnes? Do you not love me?' "Agnes looked upon him with the same strange smile that her lips had worn ever since she had begun questioning him. 'Poor Raymond,' said she, 'do you, then, doubt my love? But tell me, have you not with you that book of knowledge, of which I spoke to you, containing the strange pictures?' "'Yes.' "'Let me see it;' and she held out her hand. "Raymond hesitated. Agnes fixed her beautiful eyes upon him. 'Do you not love me, then?' said she. "Raymond thrust his hand into his bosom, and drew from the pocket of an inner vest the little volume. "Agnes took it, and look curiously at it. 'Raymond,' said she, 'will you give me this book for my own, to do as I choose with it?' "Raymond made no answer.