"Thou art mistaken, Johannes Crescentius," returned the corpse. "Thy scheme is not for the glory of Rome!"
"I will not pause to argue this point," continued the Senator. "Will the end be successful?"
"The end will be death," replied the corpse.
"To the King—or to myself?"
"To both!"
"Ha!" ejaculated Crescentius, breathing hard. "To both!"
"Proceed if you have more to ask,—the flame is expiring," cried the conjurer.
"And—Stephania?" But he could not utter the question. He felt like one choking.
But before the question was formed, the light vanished and a heavy sound was heard, as of the body falling on the frame.
"It is over!" said Dom Sabbat