"She is fast bound by a spell," said Rougemont. "Take a last look of her. You will see her no more." And, stretching out his hand, the curtains slowly descended, and shrouded the figure from view. Thorneycroft groaned aloud. "Are you not content?" cried Rougemont. "Will you depart in peace, and swear never to come here more? If so, I will liberate you and your companions." "So far from complying with your request, I swear never to rest till I have rescued my child from you, accursed being!" cried Thorneycroft energetically. "You have sealed your doom, then," replied Rougemont. "But before you are yourself immured, you shall see how Auriol Darcy is circumstanced. Bring him along." And, followed by the attendants, who dragged Mr. Thorneycroft after him, he plunged into an opening on the right. A few steps brought him to the entrance of the cell. Touching the heavy iron door, it instantly swung open, and disclosed Auriol chained to a stone at the farther corner of the narrow chamber. Not a word was spoken for some minutes, but the captives regarded each other piteously. "Oh, Mr. Thorneycroft," cried Auriol, at length, "I beseech you forgive me. I have destroyed your daughter." "You!" exclaimed the iron-merchant in astonishment. "It is true," said Rougemont. "I would have saved her if it had been possible!" cried Auriol. "I warned her that to love me would be fatal to her. I told her I was linked to an inexorable destiny, which would involve her in its meshes--but in vain." "Oh!" ejaculated Thorneycroft. "You see you ought to blame him, not me," said Rougemont, with a derisive laugh. "I would have given my life, my soul, to preserve her, had it been possible!" cried Auriol. "Horrors crowd so thick upon me that my brain reels," cried Thorneycroft. "Merciless wretch!" he added, to Rougemont, "fiend--whatever you are, complete your work of ruin by my destruction. I have nothing left to tie me to life." "I would have the miserable live," said Rougemont, with a diabolical laugh. "It is only the happy I seek to destroy. But you have to thank your own obstinacy for your present distress. Bid a lasting farewell to Auriol. You will see him no more." "Hold!" exclaimed Auriol. "A word before we part." "Ay, hold!" echoed a loud and imperious voice from the depths of the passage. "Ha!--who speaks?" demanded Rougemont, a shade passing over his countenance. "I, Gerard Paston!" exclaimed Reeks, stepping forward. The crape was gone from his brow, and in its place was seen the handsome and resolute features of a man of middle life. He held a pistol in either hand. "Is it you, Gerard Paston?" cried Auriol, regarding him; "the brother of Clara, my second victim!" "It is," replied the other. "Your deliverance is at hand, Auriol." "And you have dared to penetrate here, Gerard?" cried Rougemont, stamping the ground with rage. "Recollect, you are bound to me by the same ties as Auriol, and you shall share his fate."