"Beneath the tower in which he lives is a trap-door and a vault, from which, by means of another trap and vault, is a long subterranean passage that leads to a door that opens into one end of the mines; near this end live several men whom you must give some reward to, and they will, by concert, seize him, and set him to work."
"And if he will not work?"
"Why, they will scourge him in such a manner, that he would be afraid even of a threat of a repetition of the same treatment."
"That will do. But I think the worthy doctor will split himself with rage and malice, he will be like a caged tiger."
"But he will be denuded of his teeth and claws," replied the countess, smiling "therefore he will have leisure to repent of having threatened his employers."
Some weeks passed over, and the Count of Morven contrived to become acquainted with the doctor. They appeared to be utter strangers to each other, though each knew the other; the doctor having disguised himself, he believed the disguise impenetrable and therefore sat at ease.
"Worthy doctor," said the count to him, one day; "you have, no doubt, in your studies, become acquainted with many of the secrets of science."
"I have, my lord count; I may say there are few that are not known to Father Aldrovani. I have spent many years in research."
"Indeed!"
"Yes; the midnight lamp has burned till the glorious sun has reached the horizon, and brings back the day, and yet have I been found beside my books."
"'Tis well; men like you should well know the value of the purest and most valuable metals the earth produces?"
"I know of but one—that is gold!"
"'Tis what I mean."
"But 'tis hard to procure from the bowels of the earth—from the heart of these mountains by which we are surrounded."
"Yes, that is true. But know you not the owners of this castle and territory possess these mines and work them?"
"I believe they do; but I thought they had discontinued working them some years."
"Oh, no! that was given out to deceive the government, who claimed so much out of its products."
"Oh! ah! aye, I see now."
"And ever since they have been working it privately, and storing bars of gold up in the vaults of this—"
"Here, in this castle?"
"Yes; beneath this very tower—it being the least frequented—the strongest, and perfectly inaccessible from all sides, save the castle—it was placed there for the safest deposit."
"I see; and there is much gold deposited in the vaults?"
"I believe there is an immense quantity in the vaults."
"And what is your motive for telling me of this hoard of the precious metal?"
"Why, doctor, I thought that you or I could use a few bars; and that, if we acted in concert, we might be able to take away, at various times, and secrete, in some place or other, enough to make us rich men for all our lives."
"I should like to see this gold before I said anything about it," replied the doctor, thoughtfully.
"As you please; do you find a lamp that will not go out by the sudden draughts of air, or have the means of relighting it, and I will accompany you."
"When?"
"This very night, good doctor, when you shall see such a golden harvest you never yet hoped for, or even believed in."
"To-night be it, then," replied the doctor. "I will have a lamp that will answer our purpose, and some other matters."
"Do, good doctor," and the count left the philosopher's cell.
"The plan takes," said the count to the countess, "give me the keys, and the worthy man will be in safety before daylight."
"Is he not suspicious?"
"Not at all."
That night, about an hour before midnight—the Count Morven stole towards the philosopher's room. He tapped at the door.
"Enter," said the philosopher.
The count entered, and saw the philosopher seated, and by him a lamp of peculiar construction, and incased in gauze wire, and a cloak.
"Are you ready?" inquired the count.
"Quite," he replied.
"Is that your lamp?"
"It is."
"Follow me, then, and hold the lamp tolerably high, as the way is strange, and the steps steep."
"Lead on."
"You have made up your mind, I dare say, as to what share of the undertaking you will accept of with me."
"And what if I will not?" said the philosopher, coolly.
"It falls to the ground, and I return the keys to their place."
"I dare say I shall not refuse, if you have not deceived me as to the quantity and purity of the metal they have stored up."
"I am no judge of these metals, doctor. I am no assayest; but I believe you will find what I have to show you will far exceed your expectations on that head."
"'Tis well: proceed."
They had now got to the first vault, in which stood the first door, and, with some difficulty, they opened the vault door.
"It has not been opened for some time," said the philosopher.
"I dare say not, they seldom used to go here, from what I can learn, though it is kept a great secret."
"And we can keep it so, likewise."
"True."
They now entered the vault, and came to the second door, which opened into a kind of flight of steps, cut out of the solid rock, and then along a passage cut out of the mountain, of some kind of stone, but not so hard as the rock itself.
"You see," said the count, "what care has been taken to isolate the place, and detach it from the castle, so that it should not be dependent upon the possessor of the castle. This is the last door but one, and now prepare yourself for a surprise, doctor, this will be an extraordinary one."
So saying, the count opened the door, and stepped on one side, when the doctor approached the place, and was immediately thrust forward by the count and he rolled down some steps into the mine, and was immediately seized by some of the miners, who had been stationed there for that purpose, and carried to a distant part of the mine, there to work for the remainder of his life.
The count, seeing all secure, refastened the doors, and returned to the castle. A few weeks after this the body of a youth, mangled and disfigured, was brought to the castle, which the countess said was her son's body.
The count had immediately secured the real heir, and thrust him into the mines, there to pass a life of labour and hopeless misery.
There was a high feast held. The castle gates were thrown open, and everybody who came were entertained without question.
This was on the occasion of the count's and countess's marriage. It seemed many months after the death of her son, whom she affected to mourn for a long time.
However, the marriage took place, and in all magnificence and splendour. The countess again appeared arrayed in splendour and beauty: she was proud and haughty, and the count was imperious.
In the mean time, the young Count de Hugo de Verole was confined in the mines, and the doctor with him.
By a strange coincidence, the doctor and the young count became companions, and the former, meditating projects of revenge, educated