Sheheldherbreath——thefootstepscamenearer——werebeforeherdoor——andPASSED！
Thenitwasthatthebloodrushedbacktohercheekwithaflushofindignation。Herroomwasattheendofthepassage；therewasnothingbeyondbutaprivatestaircase，longdisused，exceptbyherself，asashortcutthroughtheoldpatiotothegarden。Nooneelseknewofit，andnooneelsehadtherightofaccesstoit！
Thisinsolenthumanintrusion——asshewassatisfieditwasnow——
overcameherfear，andsheglidedtothedoor。Openingitsoftly，shecouldhearthestealthyfootstepsdescending。Shedartedback，threwashawloverherheadandshoulders，andtakingthesmallDerringerpistolwhichithadalwaysbeenpartofherostentatiousindependencetoplaceatherbed-head，sheasstealthilyfollowedtheintruder。Butthefootstepshaddiedawaybeforeshereachedthepatio，andshesawonlythesmalldeserted，grass-growncourtyard，halfhiddeninshadows，inwhosecentrestoodthefatefulandlongsealed-upwell！Ashuddercameoverheratagainbeingbroughtintocontactwiththecauseofherfrightfulvision，butashereyesbecameaccustomedtothedarkness，shesawsomethingmorerealandappalling！Thewellwasnolongersealed！
Fragmentsofbricksandboardslayaroundit！Oneendofarope，coiledarounditlikeahugesnake，descendeditsfouldepths；andasshegazedwithstaringeyes，theheadandshouldersofamanemergedslowlyfromit！ButitwasNOTtheghostlyapparitionoflastevening，andherterrorchangedtoscornandindignationassherecognizedthefaceofStarbuck！