Varneylookedwithgreatattentionatthemachinery，andpeepedmorethanoncedowntheabysswhichwasopenedbythefallofthetrap—door。Itwasdarkaspitch，andseemedprofoundlydeep，going，asFosterinformedhisconfederateinawhisper，nightothelowestvaultoftheCastle。Varneycastoncemoreafixedandlonglookdownintothissablegulf，andthenfollowedFostertothepartofthemanor—housemostusuallyinhabited。
Whentheyarrivedintheparlourwhichwehavementioned，VarneyrequestedFostertogetthemsupper，andsomeofthechoicestwine。\"IwillseekAlasco，\"headded;\"wehaveworkforhimtodo，andwemustputhimingoodheart。\"
Fostergroanedatthisintimation，butmadenoremonstrance。TheoldwomanassuredVarneythatAlascohadscarceeatenordrunkensincehermaster\'sdeparture，livingperpetuallyshutupinthelaboratory，andtalkingasiftheworld\'scontinuancedependedonwhathewasdoingthere。
\"Iwillteachhimthattheworldhathotherclaimsonhim，\"saidVarney，seizingalight，andgoinginquestofthealchemist。Hereturned，afteraconsiderableabsence，verypale，butyetwithhishabitualsneeronhischeekandnostril。\"Ourfriend，\"hesaid，\"hasexhaled。\"
\"How！——whatmeanyou？\"saidFoster——\"runaway——fledwithmyfortypounds，thatshouldhavebeenmultipliedathousand—fold？