An awful silence ensued in the charnel-house, broken only by a low murmur from the conjurer who appeared to be reciting an incantation. As he proceeded, his tones became louder and his voice that of command. Suddenly he paused and seemed to await a response. But as none was made, greatly to the disappointment of Crescentius, whose curiosity, despite his fears, was raised to the highest pitch, cried:
"Blood is wanting to complete the charm!"
"If that be all, I will speedily supply the deficiency," replied the Senator, bared his left arm and, drawing his poniard, pricked it slightly with the point of the weapon.
"I bleed now!" he cried.
"Sprinkle the corpse with the blood," commanded Dom Sabbat.
"The blood is flowing upon it!" replied Crescentius with a shudder.
Upon this the conjurer began to mutter an incantation in a louder and more authoritative tone than before. His assistant added his voice, and both joined in a sort of chorus, but in a jargon entirely unintelligible to the Senator.
Suddenly a blue flame appeared above their heads, and slowly descending, settled upon the brow of the corpse, lighting up the sunken cavities of the eyes and the discoloured and distorted features.
"She moves! She moves!" shouted the Senator frantically. "She moves! She is alive."
"Be silent!" cried Dom Sabbat, "else mischief may ensue!"