After a rest of half an hour we kept up into the conductor. My companion seemed perfectly at home in this subterranean passage, walking along as boldly as if it had been brilliantly lighted with gas.
After proceeding some distance we approached a grating, where a light shot in from above.
“Can we pass out here?” I inquired.
“Not yet, Captain,” answered Raoul in a whisper. “Farther on.”
We passed the grating, then another and another, and at length reached one where only a feeble ray struggled downward through the bars.
Here my guide stopped, and listened attentively for several minutes. Then, stretching out his hand, he undid the fastening of the grate, and silently turned it upon its hinge. He next swung himself up until his head projected above ground. In this position he again listened, looking cautiously on all sides.
Satisfied at length that there was no one near, he drew his body up through the grating and disappeared. After a short interval he returned, and called down:
“Come, Captain.”
I swung myself up to the street. Raoul shut down the trap with care.
“Take marks, Captain,” whispered he; “we may get separated.”