CHAPTER II.
I MEET THE COUNTESS.
Following Sperver, who climbed the staircase at a rapid pace, I was able to convince myself that the Castle of Nideck merited its reputation. It was a true stronghold, cut out of the rock; a relic of feudal times. Its high, deep archways reëchoed the sound of our steps, and the wind blowing through the loopholes caused the flame of the torches which were fastened at intervals along the wall to flare and flicker and send our giant shadows dancing along the corridor. Sperver knew every nook and cranny of this vast place; he turned many times to right and left, and I followed him, out of breath. At last he stopped on a large landing, and said to me:
"I will leave you with the people of the Castle for a moment, Gaston, while I go to inform the young Countess Odile of your arrival."
"Very good; do whatever you think suitable."
"You will find among the domestics, our majordomo, Tobias Offenloch, an old soldier of the regiment of Nideck. In former days he made a campaign in Germany under the Count."
"A good fellow, no doubt."
"You will also see his wife, a Frenchwoman, named Marie Lagoutte, who pretends to come of good family."