"Come, then, come; show me the way."
They entered the massive doors. The sentry saluted the general, and they passed on.
"Let nothing more be done until I return," said Melac to the sentry. "I wish to go over the old building before we consign it to the flames."
CHAPTER IV.
CASPAR'S VENGEANCE.
Deep silence reigned within the walls of the holy temple, broken occasionally by an expiring sigh, or the faint sound of the death- rattle. For the French soldiery had done their work. The poor wretches that had been ensnared into seeking refuge there, had all been murdered, and their possessions removed to a place of safety. One hour earlier, the vaults of the house of God had rung with shrieks and groans, but the victims were now dying or dead.
General Melac went among the prostrate bodies, looking here and there behind the pillars, to see whether any thing of value had been overlooked by his subordinates. The monk mean while bent over the prostrate forms that lay in hundreds upon the marble pavement, and so absorbed was he in soothing their last moments, that he almost started as the rough voice of General Melac reached him from the opposite end of the nave.
"Come, come," cried he, in thundering tones. "Enough of useless sentimentality!"
Without a word the monk rose, and, pointing to the grand altar, the general entered the chancel, and followed his conductor to a small door cut in the wall. This the monk opened, and, stepping back, signed to Melac to advance.
"Does this winding-stair lead to the tower?" asked the latter.