"Oh, what a duel, sir, what a duel!" Once in the fifth cellar, the Persian drew breath.

He seemed to enjoy a rather greater sense of security than he had displayed when they both stopped in the third; but he never altered the attitude of his hand.
And Raoul, remembering the Persian's observation--"I know these pistols can be relied upon"-- was more and more astonished, wondering why any one should be so gratified at being able to rely upon a pistol which he did not intend to use! But the Persian left him no time for reflection.

Telling Raoul to stay where he was, he ran up a few steps of the staircase which they had just left and then returned.
"How stupid of us!" he whispered.

"We shall soon have seen the end of those men with their lanterns.

It is the firemen going their rounds."[2] The two men waited five minutes longer.