"I hardly know whether that remark be complimentary or not. You might mean that no other course was left you."
"Which I suspect is true, although if it proved so I should willingly trust myself to your guidance, because of my faith in you."
"That is much better," her eyes laughing, yet as swiftly sobering again. "But it is foolish of us to waste time in such silly speeches. There is too much waiting attention. Fortunately this house is not without its secrets, for when built by my grandfather this was the frontier."
"But does not Grant know?" I asked soberly. "I understood he played here as a boy, and there is not much a lad fails to learn."
"He is not without knowledge, surely, but here is something he never discovered. I would never have trusted him with the secret, and yet, as short a time as I have known you, I have no hesitancy. Isn't that a frank confession, sir?"
"One I mean you shall never regret."
"I am sure of that; yet I shall not betray everything even to you. Please face about with eyes to the front window. Yes, so; now do not look around until I tell you."
I heard her cross the room, her skirts rustling slightly, and then the faint clicking of some delicately adjusted mechanism. As this sound ceased, her voice again spoke.
"Now, Major, the way is opened for a safe retreat. Behold what has been accomplished by the genii of the lamp."
She was standing at one side of what had been the fireplace, but now the entire lower portion of the great chimney had been swung aside, revealing an opening amply large enough for the entrance of a man. I took one step forward to where I could perceive the beginning of a narrow winding stair leading down into intense blackness. Then I glanced aside into her eyes.