Butwithinandbelowallwasstillasthetomb，andthoughinnowaysreassured，Ideterminedtodescendandhavethesuspenseoveratonce。Ididso，pistolinhandandearsstretchedtotheirutmosttocatchtheslightestrustle，butnosoundcametodisturbme，nordidImeetonthislowerfloorthesignofanyotherpresenceinthehousebutmyown。Passinghastilythroughwhatappearedtobeasortofrudeparlor，Isteppedintothekitchenandtriedoneofthewindows。FindingIcouldeasilyliftitfromtheinside，IdrewmybreathwitheaseforthefirsttimesinceIhadalightedamongthebrokenglassabove，andturningback，deliberatelyopenedthedoorofthekitchenstove，andlookedin。AsIhalfexpected，Ifoundapileofpartlycharredrags，showingwherethewretcheshadburnedtheirprisonclothing，andproceedingfurther，pickedupfromtheashesaringwhichwhetherornottheywereconsciousofhavingattemptedtodestroyinthiswayIcannotsay，butwhichIthankfullyputinmypocketagainstthedayitmightberequiredasproof。
Discerningnothingmoreinthatquarterinvitinginterest，IaskedmyselfifIhadnervetodescendintothecellar。Finallyconcludingthatthatwasmorethancouldbeexpectedfromanymaninmyposition，Igaveonelookoffarewelltothedampanddesolatewallsaboutme，thenwithabreathofreliefjumpedfromthekitchenwindowagainintothelightandairofday。AsIdidsoIcouldswearIheardadoorwithinthatoldhouseswingonitshingesandsoftlyclose。WithathrillIrecognizedthefactthatitcamefromthecellar。
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MythoughtsontheroadbacktoMelvilleweremanyandconflicting。
Chiefabovethemall，however，rosethecomfortableconclusionthatinthepursuitofonemysteriousaffair，Ihadstumbled，asisoftenthecase，uponthecluetoanotherofyetgreaterimportance，andbysodoinggotastartthatmightyetredoundgreatlytomyadvantage。