Ah, poor soul, he has paid for his unbelief." Lovel, followed by Oates and the other whom he called Prance, dived again into the darkness.

Now he had no fears.

He saw himself acclaimed with the Doctor as the saviour of the nation, and the door of Aldersgate Street open at his knocking.

The man Prance produced a lantern, and lighted them up the steps and into the tumbledown passage.

Fired with a sudden valour, Lovel drew his sword and led the way to the sinister room.