Through the door so long mysterious Hester stepped on a narrow, steep stair. Christopher turned downward, and trod softly. At the bottom he passed through a door admitting them to a small cellar, a mere recess. Thence they issued into that so lately occupied by the Frankses. Christopher went to the door Hester had locked, and said, "This is where I came in. I suppose one of your people must have locked it." "I locked it myself," replied Hester, and told him in brief the story of the evening. "I see!" said Christopher; "we must have passed through just after you had taken them away." "And now the question remains," said Hester, "--who can it be in our house without our knowledge? The stair is plainly in our house." "Beyond a doubt," said Christopher. "But how strange it is you should know your own house so imperfectly! I fancy the young couple, having got into some difficulty, found entrance the same way the Frankses did; only they went farther and fared better!--to the top of the house, I mean. They've managed to make themselves pretty comfortable too! There is something peculiar about them--I can hardly say what in a word." "Could I not go up with you to-morrow and see them!" said Hester. "That would hardly do, I fear. I could be of no farther use to them were they to suppose I had betrayed them. You have a perfect right to know what is going on in your house, but I would rather not appear in the discovery. One thing is plain, you must either go to them, or unlock the cellar-door. You will be taken with the young woman. She is a capable creature--an excellent nurse. Shall I go out this way?" "Will you come to-morrow?" said Hester. "I am alone, and cannot ask anybody to help me because of the small-pox; and I shall want help for the funeral. You do not think me troublesome?" "Not in the least. It is all in the way of my business. I will manage for you." "Come then; I will show you the way out. This is no. 18, Addison square. You need not come in the cellar-way next time." "If I were you," said Christopher, stopping at the foot of the kitchen stair, "I would leave the key in that cellar-door. The poor young woman would be terrified to find they were prisoners." She turned immediately and went back, he following, and replaced the key. "Now let us fasten up the door I came in by," said Christopher. "I have got a screw in my pocket, and I never go without my tool-knife." This was soon done, and he went.