"What is it?" he asked.
"Tell me—are we not nearing there—I am so anxious—my heart almost suffocates me, for it beats like wildfire," she gasped.
He pitied her, for he could easily understand why she should thus feel distressed.
"Courage—we cannot be far away from his cell now. Bear up, and all will be well. To fail at this time would mean his death."
Roderic did not add that their own fate would probably be also sealed—he knew that fact only too well, but it was useless to mention it.
At any rate all Inez thought of was Leon's welfare.
She seemed to call upon some reserve force, and her companion knew the crisis had been safely passed, for which he was deeply thankful.
When he said he believed they were near the spot where they would find Leon, he spoke truly.
There were strong evidences of dungeons all around them, some with the doors entirely gone, while others had a stout barrier hanging from one great rusty hinge.
It might be supposed that ere long they would run across those still remaining in a good state of preservation, and in which prisoners were confined.