“After the funeral?” said Gerard Artis.
“No, sir; there will be no funeral.”
“No funeral!” exclaimed Artis and Paul Capel in a breath, and then they rose to their feet, startled more than they would have cared to own, for at that moment a strange wild cry seemed to come from the staircase, followed by a heavy crash.
“Good Heavens!” cried the old lawyer, dropping his snuff-box.
Katrine D’Enghien alone remained unmoved, with her head turned towards the door.
Chapter Three.
One Guardian of the Treasure.
Paul Capel was the first to recover from the surprise, and to hurry from the darkened room, followed by Artis and the late Colonel’s solicitor, though it was into no blaze of light, for the staircase was equally gloomy.