“Look out!” he said. “Keep your hand up! And silence! For we shall try another way of getting in.”

And he led him to the little staircase by which they had come down lately.

They went up, stopping at each step, peering into the darkness and the silence, till they came to the third cellar. Here the Persian motioned to Raoul to go on his knees; and, in this way, crawling on both knees and one hand⁠—for the other hand was held in the position indicated⁠—they reached the end wall.

Against this wall stood a large discarded scene from the Roi de Lahore . Close to this scene was a set piece. Between the scene and the set piece there was just room for a body⁠ ⁠… for a body which one day was found hanging there. The body of Joseph Buquet.