" "At all events, we will go to the end," said
Malipieri, beginning to walk down the inclined way, and carrying his
lantern low, so as not to be dazzled by the light.
Masin followed closely, grasping his drilling-iron, and still
expecting to use it. The end of the passage had once been walled up,
but they had found the fragments of brick and mortar lying much as
they had fallen when knocked away. It was impossible to tell from
which side the obstacle had been destroyed.
Going further, they stepped upon the curve of a tunnel vault, and were
obliged to stoop low to avoid striking against another overhead. The
two vaults had been carefully constructed, one outside the other,
leaving a space of about five feet between them. The one under their
feet covered the inner chamber in which Malipieri had seen the bronze
statue. He and Masin had made a hole a little on one side of the
middle, in order not to disturb the keystones, working very carefully
lest any heavy fragments should fall through; for they had at once
been sure that if any thing was to be found, it must be concealed in
that place. Before making the opening, they had thoroughly explored
the dark curved space from end to end and from side to side, but could
discover no aperture. The inner vault had never been opened since it
had been built.
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