He turned on one side, and they followed a paling. Susie could feel that they walked along a narrow path. She could see hardly two steps in front of her. At last he stood still.
“I came here earlier in the night and made the opening easier to get through.”
He turned back a broken piece of railing and slipped in. Susie followed, and Dr Porhoët entered after her.
“I can see nothing,” said Susie.
“Give my your hand, and I will lead you.”
They walked with difficulty through the tangled bracken, among closely planted trees. They stumbled, and once Dr Porhoët fell. It seemed that they went a long way. Susie’s heart beat fast with anxiety. All her weariness was forgotten.
Then Arthur stopped them, and he pointed in front of him. Through an opening in the trees, they saw the house. All the windows were dark except those just under the roof, and from them came bright lights.
“Those are the attics which he uses as a laboratory. You see, he is working now. There is no one else in the house.”
Susie was curiously fascinated by the flaming lights. There was an awful mystery in those unknown labours which absorbed Oliver Haddo night after night till the sun rose. What horrible things were done there, hidden from the eyes of men? By himself in that vast house the madman performed ghastly experiments; and who could tell what dark secrets he trafficked in?
“There is no danger that he will come out,” said Arthur. “He remains there till the break of day.”