At length he descried a glimmer of light issuing from a door which he knew to be that of the vestry, and which was standing slightly ajar.

Opening it, he perceived a lamp burning on the table, and without stopping to look around him, seized it, and hurried back to the porter.

Poor Blaize presented a lamentable, and yet grotesque appearance.

His plump person was greatly reduced in bulk, and his round cheeks had become hollow and cadaverous.

He was strapped, as he had stated, to the pallet, which in its turn was fastened to the adjoining pillar.