“I daren’t go up, I daren’t.”
“Very well, then; stop where you are. I dare, and will.”
Off I started; and, as I expected, directly I moved, she rushed after me.
“Oh, Pollie, don’t leave me, don’t. I’d sooner do anything than have you leave me.”
On that top floor there were again three rooms. And again, one of them was empty. It was a sort of attic, at the back. So far as I could make out it had no window at all; it was papered over if it had one. But talk of rats! It was a larger room than the one below, and seemed to be still more crowded. We could not only hear them, we could see them. There they were, blinking at the candlelight out of the floor and walls, and even ceiling. It was a cheerful prospect. I had heard of rats, when they had got rid of everything else, eating human beings. We two could do nothing against these multitudes; I felt sure that the mere fright of being attacked would be enough to kill Emily. I said nothing to her, but I thought of it all the same.
The door next to the attic was fastened. Whether it was locked or not I could not make out. It felt as solid as if it never had been opened, and had been never meant to open. When I struck it with my knuckles, it returned no sound. That it was something else besides a mere wooden door was obvious.
“Another treasure room!” I laughed.
But Emily did not seem pleased.
“I don’t like these locked-up rooms. What is there on the other side?”
“I thought you were so fond of mystery.”