within, so
faint that it appeared an echo of the other. The rebel counted, as fast as
possible, fifteen; and then tapped thrice as he had done before, meeting
the same reply, a repetition of his own signal. After a moment's interval,
a little wicket opened in the door, and a low voice asked "Who?" In the
same guarded tone the answer was returned, "Cornelius." Again the voice
asked, "Which?" and instantly, as Cataline replied, "the third," the door
flew open, and he entered.

The Atrium, or wide hall in which he stood, was all in utter darkness;
there was no light on the altar of the Penates, which was placed by the
_impluvium_--a large shallow tank of water occupying the centre of the hall
in all Roman houses--nor any gleam from the _tablinum_, or closed gallery
beyond, parted by heavy curtains from the audience chamber.

There were no stars to glimmer through the opening in the roof above the
central tank, yet the quick eye of the conspirator perceived, upon the
instant, that two strong men with naked swords, their points within a
hand's breadth of his bosom, stood on each side of the doorway.

The gate was closed as silently as it had given him entrance; was barred
and bolted; and till then no word was interchanged. When all, however, was
secure, a deep rich voice, suppressed into a whisper, exclaimed "Sergius?"
"Ay!" answered Cataline. "Come on!" and without farther parley they stole
into the most secret chambers of the house, fearful as it appeared of the
sounds of their own footsteps, much more of their own voices.

Thus with extreme precaution, when they had traversed several chambers,
among which were an indoor _triclinium_, or dining parlor, and a vast
picture gallery, groping their way along in utter darkness, they reached a
small square court, surrounded by a peristyle or colonnade, containing a
dilapidated fountain. Passing through this, they reached a second dining
room, where on the central table they found a small lamp burning, and by
the aid of this, though still observing the most scrupulous silence,
quickly attained their destination--a low and vaulted chamber entirely
below the surface of the ground, accessible only by a stair defended by
two doors of unusual thickness.

That was a fitting place for deeds of darkness, councils of desperation,
such as they held, who met within its gloomy precincts. The moisture,
which dripped constantly from its groined roof of stone, had formed
stalactites of ding