He struck three heavy blows, and the door flew open at the third. The
detective had looked at his watch, for it was his business to note the
hour at which any forcible entrance was made. It was twenty minutes to
nine. Malipieri and Sabina had slept a little more than five hours and
a half.
Malipieri, still sleeping heavily in his armchair, heard the noise in
a dream. He fancied he was in the vaults again, driving his crowbar
into the bricks, and that he suddenly heard Masin working from the
other side. But Masin was not alone, for there were voices, and he had
several people with him.
Malipieri awoke with a violent start. Volterra, the detective, the two
police soldiers, Gigi and the porter were all in the study, looking at
him as he sat there in his armchair, in the broad light, carefully
dressed as if he had been about to go out when he had sat down.
"You sleep soundly, Signer Malipieri," said the fat Baron, with a
caressing smile.
Malipieri had good nerves, but for a moment he was dazed, and then,
perhaps for the first time in his life, he was thoroughly frightened,
for he knew that Sabina must be still asleep in his room, and in spite
of his urgent request when he had left her, he did not believe that
she had locked the door after all. The first thought that flashed upon
him was that Volterra had somehow discovered that she was there, and
had come to find her.
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