And I caught her to my heart and kissed her roughly. "Now," I whispered, "I will carry you--the steps are too rough for your little feet--dear, dainty, white little feet! I will carry you, you armful of sweetness!--yes, carry you safely down into the fairy grotto where the jewels are--SUCH jewels, and all for you--my love, my wife!"

And I raised her from the ground as though she were a young, frail child. Whether she tried to resist me or not I cannot now remember. I bore her down the moldering stairway, setting my foot on each crooked step with the firmness of one long familiar with the place. But my brain reeled--rings of red fire circled in the darkness before my eyes; every artery in my body seemed strained to bursting; the pent-up agony and fury of my soul were such that I thought I should go mad or drop down dead ere I gained the end of my long desire. As I descended I felt her clinging to me; her hands were cold and clammy on my neck, as though she were chilled to the blood with terror. At last I reached the lowest step--I touched the floor of the vault. I set my precious burden down. Releasing my clasp of her, I remained for a moment inactive, breathing heavily. She caught my arm--she spoke in a hoarse whisper.

"What place is this? Where is the light you spoke of?"