"Quite sure." Malipieri smiled, as he thought of Toto's hobnailed
shoes. "When you are standing firmly, I will get down too, if there is
room."
"It is not a very big hole," observed Sabina, letting herself down
till her feet rested on the smooth surface. She did not quite wish to
be as near him as that; at least, not yet.
"I will creep down over the arm," she said, "and then you can follow
me. I hope there are no beasts," she added. "I hate spiders."
Malipieri lowered his lantern beside her, and she crept along towards
the statue's head. In a few moments he was beside her, bringing both
the lantern and the lamp with him. They had both forgotten Masin's
existence, as he had not yet appeared. Sabina looked about for
spiders, but there were none in sight. The vault was perfectly dry,
and there was hardly any dust clinging to the rough mortar that
covered the stones. It was clear that the framework must have been
carefully removed, and the place thoroughly cleaned, before the statue
had been drawn into the vault from one end.
"He is perfectly hideous," said Sabina, as they reached the huge face.
"But it is magnificent," she added, passing her gloved hand over the
great golden features. "I wonder who it is meant for."
"A Roman emperor as Hercules, I think," Malipieri answered.
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