"Ah! and what did you say?"

"That I was ready to follow my charming conductress. I did not
know if she were charming or not, but I thought that the epithet,
even if exaggerated, could do no harm."

"And you asked no more?"

"I had often read these kinds of histories in books, and I had
remarked that they always turned out well for the doctor. Therefore
I followed, and I counted 498 paces."

"Good; then this must be the door."

"It cannot be far off, at all events, unless she led me by some
detour, which I half suspect."

"But did she pronounce no name?"

"None."

"But you remarked something?"

"All that one could with one's fingers, a door with nails, then
a passage, and then a staircase----"

"On the left?"

"Yes; and I counted the steps. Then I think we came to a corridor,
for they opened three doors."