When they reached the iron door of the dungeon in which he had, with so strange a feeling at his heart, visited the haggard, dumb prisoner, he stopped abruptly.
"He is there," said he, with beating heart.
But Monsieur de Sazerac sorrowfully shook his head.
"No," he replied, "he is no longer there."
"What!" ejaculated Gabriel. "No longer there! Are you mocking me, Monsieur?"
"Oh, Monsieur!" said the governor, in mild reproach.
A cold sweat moistened Gabriel's brow.
"Pardon, pardon," he murmured. "But what do your words imply? Oh, tell me; speak quickly!"
"I am very much grieved to inform you, Monsieur, that last evening the secret prisoner confined here was transferred to a floor below this."
"Ah!" said Gabriel, bewildered. "Why was that, pray?"