Durtal was wondering where the keeper had gone, when, turning a corner, he saw a shaft of light, then he stumbled against the rickety supports of a "double-current" lamp in front of a door.

Des Hermies pulled a bell cord and the door swung back.
Above them on a landing they could see feet, whether of a man or of a woman they could not tell.
"Ah! it's you, M.des Hermies," and a woman bent over, describing an arc, so that her head was in a stream of light.

"Louis will be very glad to see you." "Is he in ?" asked Des Hermies, reaching up and shaking hands with the woman.
"He is in the tower.

Won't you stop and rest a minute ?" "Why, when we come down, if you don't mind." "Then go up until you see a grated door--but what an old fool I am! You know the way as well as I do." "To be sure, to be sure....

But, in passing, permit me to introduce my friend Durtal." Durtal, somewhat flustered, made a bow in the darkness.
"Ah, monsieur, how fortunate.