As
soon as he had ascertained that Malipieri was not going to oppose him,
he had become oily to obsequiousness.
On his part Malipieri had accepted everything Volterra proposed, for
two reasons. In the first place he would not for the world have had
the financier think that he wanted a share of the treasure, or any
remuneration for what he had done. Secondly, he knew that possession
is nine points of the law, and that if anything could ever be obtained
for Sabina it would not be got by making a show of violent opposition
to the Baron's wishes. If Malipieri had refused to leave his lodging
in the palace, Volterra could have answered by filling the house with
people in his own employ, or by calling in government architects,
archaeologists and engineers, and taking the whole matter out of
Malipieri's hands.
The first thing to be ascertained was, who had entered the vaults and
reported the state of the work to Volterra. Malipieri might have
suspected the porter himself, for it was possible that there might be
another key to the outer entrance of the cellar; but there was a
second door further in, to which Masin had put a patent padlock, and
even Masin had not the key to that. The little flat bit of steel, with
its irregular indentations, was always in Malipieri's pocket. As he
walked, he felt for it, and it was in its place, with his silver
pencil-case and the small penknife he always carried for sharpening
pencils.
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