But here we are.

Take care how you come down, and mind your head." Having turned aside some few minutes before into the Rue St.Honore, we had thence diverged down a narrow street with a gutter running along the middle and no foot-pavements on either side.

The houses seemed to be nearly all shops, some few of which, for the retailing of _charbonnerie_, stale vegetables, uninviting cooked meats, and so forth, were still open; but that before which we halted was closely shuttered up, with only a private door open at the side, lighted by a single oil-lamp.

Following my friend for a couple of yards along the dim passage within, I became aware of strange sounds, proceeding apparently from the bowels of the earth, and found myself at the head of a steep staircase, down which it was necessary to proceed with my body bent almost double, in consequence of the close proximity of the ceiling and the steps.

At the foot of this staircase came another dim passage and another oil-lamp over a low door, at which Dalrymple paused a moment before entering.