"Is there treasure in this place?"
Gervase tried to repeat the question, but his tongue clave to his mouth. For the first time probably in his life he felt the sensation of horrible, undefined, uncontrollable fear,—that fear of the unknown and supernatural, that shrinking from spiritual intercourse even with those we have loved best. It seemed as though he were in communion with the invisible world,—that awful, incomprehensible state of existence; and with beings whose power and essence are yet unknown, armed, in imagination, with attributes of terror and of vengeance.
With a desperate effort, however, he repeated the question. Breathless, and with intense agony, he awaited the response. It came! A voice, not from the lips of the recumbent victim, but as though it were some inward afflatus, hollow and sepulchral. The lips did not move, but the following reply was given.
"There is!"
Even the guilty confederates started back in alarm at the success of their own experiment. All was, however, still,—silent as before.
Taking courage, the next question was put in like manner.
"In what direction?"
"Under the main pillar at the south-eastern corner of the vault."
After another pause, the following questions were asked:
"How may we obtain the treasure sought?"