THE CHARTREUSE OF SEILLON  
The traveller found the statue he sought standing in the niche at the right of the great door. He brought his horse close to the wall, and standing up in his stirrups, he reached the base of the pedestal of the statue; he slipped his hand into it, felt a ring, drew it to him, and guessed at rather than heard the tinkling of a little bell. This he repeated three times. After the third time he listened. He thought he heard a hesitating step approach the door.
"Who rang?" asked a voice.
"He who comes in the name of the prophet," replied the traveller.
"What prophet?"
"He who has left his mantle to his disciples."
"What is his name?"
"Elisha."
"Who is the king of Israel whom the children of Israel must obey?"
"Jehu."
"What is the house they are to exterminate?"
"That of Ahab."
"Are you a prophet or a disciple?"
[Pg 394]
"I am a disciple, but I have come to be made a prophet."
"Then welcome to the House of the Lord."
Scarcely had these words been uttered than the iron bars which held the door were noiselessly removed, the bolts shot as noiselessly back into their sockets, and the door opened silently, as if by magic.
The rider and his horse disappeared beneath the arch. The door closed behind them. The man who had opened it so slowly and closed it so quickly approached the new-comer as he dismounted.
The latter looked curiously at him. He was dressed in the long white robes of the Carthusian monks, and his hood entirely concealed his head. He took the horse's bridle, but evidently more as a favor than as a duty. In the meantime the traveller unfastened his valise from the saddle, and drawing his pistols from their holsters, put them in his belt with the others.
The traveller glanced around him, and seeing no light and hearing no sound, he asked: "Are the Companions absent?"
"They have gone on an expedition," replied the brother.
"Do you expect them back to-night?"
"I hope for them to-night, but I scarcely expect them before to-morrow night."
The traveller reflected for a moment. Their absence seemed to disturb him.
"I cannot lodge in the town," said he; "I should be afraid of being noticed, if not recognized. Can I wait here for the Companions?"
"Yes, if you will give me your word of honor not to attempt to go away."
"You have it."
In the meantime the robe of a second monk appeared in the shadow, growing whiter as he approached the spot where they were standing. He was doubtless a Companion of a lower order, for the first one tossed the horse's bridle to him, telling him to take the horse to the stable, more in the way[Pg 395] of command than of request. Then, holding out his hand to the traveller, he said: "You understand why we have no lights. This monastery is supposed to be uninhabited, or at least inhabited by ghosts only; a light would betray us. Take my hand and follow me."
The traveller removed his glove and took the monk's hand. It was a soft hand, evidently unused to all labors which deprive this member of its pristine, aristocratic appearance. In the circumstances in which the traveller found himself everything was of importance. He perceived at once that he had to do with a man of innate good breeding, and followed him without hesitation. After several turns in corridors that were perfectly dark, they entered a rotunda which was lighted from above. This was evidently the dining-room of the Companions. It was lighted by candles placed in candelabra on the walls. A fire was burning in a large fireplace, fed by dry wood, which made little or no smoke.
The monk handed the traveller a chair, and said: "If our brother is weary, let him rest; if our brother is hungry, supper will be served him; if he wishes to sleep, he will be shown to his bed."
"I accept them all," said the traveller, stretching out his shapely and powerful limbs. "The chair because I am weary, the supper because I am hungry, the bed because I am sleepy. But with your permission, my very dear brother, we will take them in turn."
He threw his broad-brimmed hat upon the table, and passing his hand through his wavy hai............