Ebba continued to pray fervently for her own deliverance, and for that of Auriol. In the midst of her supplications she was aroused by strains of music of the most exquisite sweetness, proceeding apparently from behind the curtain, and while listening to these sounds she was startled by a deafening crash as if a large gong had been stricken. The cover of the lamp was then slowly raised, and the burners blazed forth as before, while from the two vases in front of the curtain arose clouds of incense, filling the chamber with stupefying fragrance. Again the gong was stricken, and Ebba looked round towards the curtain. Above each vase towered a gigantic figure, wrapped in a long black cloak, the lower part of which was concealed by the thick vapour. Hoods, like the cowls of monks, were drawn over the heads of these grim and motionless figures; mufflers enveloped their chins, and they wore masks, from the holes of which gleamed eyes of unearthly brightness. Their hands were crossed upon their breasts. Between them squatted two other spectral forms, similarly cloaked, hooded, and masked, with their gleaming eyes fixed upon her, and their skinny fingers pointed derisively at her. Behind the curtain was placed a strong light, which showed a wide staircase of black marble, leading to some upper chamber, and at the same time threw the reflection of a gigantic figure upon the drapery, while a hand, the finger of which pointed towards her, was thrust from an opening between its folds. Forcibly averting her gaze, Ebba covered her eyes with her hands, but looking up again after a brief space, beheld an ebon door at the side revolve upon its hinges, and give entrance to three female figures, robed in black, hooded and veiled, and having their hands folded, in a melancholy manner, across their breasts. Slowly and noiselessly advancing, they halted within a few paces of her. "Who and what are ye?" she cried, wild with terror. "The victims of Auriol!" replied the figure on the right. "As we are, such will you be ere long." "What crime have you committed?" demanded Ebba. "We have loved him," replied the second figure. [Illustration: The Chamber of Mystery.] "Is that a crime?" cried Ebba. "If so, I am equally culpable with you." "You will share our doom," replied the third figure. "Heaven have mercy upon me!" exclaimed the agonised girl, dropping upon her knees. At this moment a terrible voice from behind the curtain exclaimed, "Sign, or Auriol is lost for ever." "I cannot yield my soul, even to save him," cried Ebba distractedly. "Witness his chastisement, then," cried the voice. And as the words were uttered, a side door was opened on the opposite side, and Auriol was dragged forth from it by two masked personages, who looked like familiars of the Inquisition. "Do not yield to the demands of this fiend, Ebba!" cried Auriol, gazing at her distractedly. "Will you save him before he is cast, living, into the tomb?" cried the voice.