No lights were visible except in the village at the foot of the hill, and these were distant and feeble, through an open window--left open that the asthmatic keeper of the establishment might be supplied with breath--he heard a stertorous snore.

On the other side matters were not so silent.

There were groans, and yells, and gabble from the reeking and sleepless patients, who had been penned up for the long and terrible night.

Concluding that every thing was as safe for his operations as it would become at any time, he slowly felt his way to the door of the ward which held Paul Benedict, and found it fastened on the outside, as he had anticipated.

Lifting the bar from the iron arms that held it, and pushing back the bolt, he silently opened the door.