A lantern, standing on the ground, showed a bubbling well.

The water splashing from the well disappeared, almost at once, under the floor on which I was lying, with my head on the knee of the man in the black cloak and the black mask.

He was bathing my temples and his hands smelt of death.

I tried to push them away and asked, 'Who are you?
Where is the voice ?' His only answer was a sigh.

Suddenly, a hot breath passed over my face and I perceived a white shape, beside the man's black shape, in the darkness.