All three began to finger the numerous buttons, and finally Bobichel uttered a cry of triumph. He had turned a button aside and a little iron door noiselessly swung itself on its hinges.
"There is the secret way in which Jane and Spero have disappeared," cried Gontram; "Jane has, no doubt, been abducted. The piece of white satin in the crack must have belonged to the bed-cover, for Madame Caraman told me the cover had disappeared at the same time as the girl. Spero knew of this exit and probably had reasons for leaving the house secretly. Let us go the same way, and perhaps we may find out where the vicomte is."
"So be it," cried Fanfaro, "and then, in Heaven's name, forward!"
Gontram had in the meanwhile sent a note with Coucou to Carmen.
Each one of the three carried a three-armed bronze lamp, and the light they gave forth illuminated the marble steps of a staircase.
Gontram was the first to reach the top stair. At the same moment a hollow noise was heard, and when the comrades turned around to find out the cause of it, they saw that the iron door had closed behind them. They tried in vain to open it again. It did not budge.
"We cannot return," said Fanfaro finally, "therefore forward with God's help."