And at the words, a heavy slab of marble rose slowly from the floor near where Ebba sat, and disclosed a dark pit beneath. Ebba gazed into the abyss with indescribable terror. "There he will be immured, unless you sign," cried the voice; "and, as he is immortal, he will endure an eternity of torture." "I cannot save him so, but I may precede him," cried Ebba. And throwing her hands aloft, she flung herself into the pit. A fearful cry resounded through the chamber. It broke from Auriol, who vainly strove to burst from those who held him, and precipitate himself after Ebba. Soon after this, and while Auriol was gazing into the abyss, a tongue of blue flame arose from it, danced for a moment in the air, and then vanished. No sooner was it gone than a figure, shrouded in black habiliments, and hooded and muffled up like the three other female forms, slowly ascended from the vault, apparently without support, and remained motionless at its brink. "Ebba!" exclaimed Auriol, in a voice of despair. "Is it you?" The figure bowed its head, but spoke not. "Sign!" thundered the voice. "Your attempt at self-destruction has placed you wholly in my power. Sign!" At this injunction, the figure moved slowly towards the table, and to his unspeakable horror, Auriol beheld it take up the pen and write upon the parchment. He bent forward, and saw that the name inscribed thereon was EBBA THORNEYCROFT. The groan to which he gave utterance was echoed by a roar of diabolical laughter. The figure then moved slowly away, and ranged itself with the other veiled forms. "All is accomplished," cried the voice. "Away with him!" On this, a terrible clangour was heard; the lights were extinguished; and Auriol was dragged through the doorway from which he had been brought forth. END OF THE FIRST BOOK INTERMEAN 1800 CHAPTER I THE TOMB OF THE ROSICRUCIAN On the night of the 1st of March 1800, and at a late hour, a man, wrapped in a large horseman's cloak, and of strange and sinister appearance, entered an old deserted house in the neighbourhood of Stepney Green. He was tall, carried himself very erect, and seemed in the full vigour of early manhood; but his features had a worn and ghastly look, as if bearing the stamp of long-indulged and frightful excesses, while his dark gleaming eyes gave him an expression almost diabolical.