rrower and
darker than any they had yet traversed. Into this the Count turned and
after he had taken his companion a short distance stopped in front of a
dingy but well-preserved building. It differed from its neighbors in
having no shop on the ground floor and in being tightly closed from
bottom to top. It looked as if it were uninhabited.

"We have reached our destination," said Monte-Cristo. "This is the
residence of Dr. Absalom."

Maximilian stared at him in astonishment.

"The house is deserted," said he. "Are you not mistaken?"

"No. This is the place."

"I fear then that the physician has left it and perhaps also the
Ghetto."

Monte-Cristo smiled.

"You do not know him," he said. "His habits and manner of living are
very peculiar. Prepare to be greatly surprised!"

Thus speaking he went to the door of the tightly-closed dwelling and
struck five loud raps upon it, three very quickly and two very slowly
delivered. The sounds seemed to reverberate through the house as if it
were not only uninhabited but also unfurnished. Several minutes elapsed
but no response was heard to Monte-Cristo's signal, no one came in
obedience to his summons. The Count held his watch in his hand and his
eyes were riveted upon the dial.

M. Morrel grew slightly impatient; he said to his companion,
triumphantly:

"I told you that the house was deserted and I was right!"

The Count smiled again, but made no reply, still keeping his eyes fixed
on the dial of his watch.

"Ten minutes!" said he, and he repeated his signal, but this time struck
only three rapid blows. As before no answer was returned.

Maximilian was much interested and not a little amused, the Count's
proceedings were so singular.

"Fifteen minutes!" said Monte-Cristo at length, putting up his watch and
giving one long, resounding rap upon the door.

The effect was instantaneous. The portal swung open through some unseen
influence, as if by magic, disclosing a long, bare, gloomy corridor, but
not a sign of human life was visible.

M. Morrel's interest and amusement changed to wonder and amazement; he
was thoroughly mystified and bewildered.

"The common people of Rome are not very far astray in their estimate of
this Dr. Absalom!" he muttered. "This certainly looks as if the man were
a magician!"

"Pshaw!" returned Monte-Cristo, with a display of impatience he rarely
exhibited. "The learned Hebrew is compelled to take his precautions;
that is all. Follow