Then, taking the lamp, he advanced towards a dark staircase, for the windows of the house had not been un-bricked.
"But," said Rodin, "the last time, we met in a saloon on the ground floor."
"To-day, we must go higher," answered Samuel, as he began slowly to ascend the stairs.
"Where to? higher!" said Rodin, following him.
"To the Hall of Mourning," replied the Jew, and he continued to ascend.
"What is the Hall of Mourning?" resumed Rodin, in some surprise.
"A place of tears and death," answered the Israelite; and he kept on ascending through the darkness, for the little lamp threw but a faint light around.
"But," said Rodin, more and more astonished, and stopping short on the stairs, "why go to this place?"
"The money is there," answered Samuel, and he went on,
"Oh? if the money is there, that alters the case," replied Rodin; and he made haste to regain the few steps he had lost by stopping.