"
"Provided that you have written down exactly what I said," Malipieri
answered.
The detective rose and handed him the sheets, at which he glanced
rapidly.
"Yes. That is what I said."
"Let me see," Volterra put in, rising and holding out his hand.
He took the paper and read every word carefully, before he returned
the manuscript.
"You might add," he said, "that I have been most anxious to keep the
excavations a secret because I do not wish to be pestered by reporters
before I have handed over to the government any discoveries which may
be made."
"Certainly," answered the man, taking his pen again, and writing
rapidly.
Volterra was almost as anxious to get rid of him as Malipieri himself.
What the latter had said had informed him that in spite of the water
the vaults could be reached, and he was in haste to go down. He had,
indeed, noted the fact that whereas Sabina had left his house with
Sassi at five o'clock, the latter had been taken to the hospital only
three quarters of an hour later, and he wondered where she could be;
but it did not even occur to him as possible that she should be in
Malipieri's apartment. The idea would have seemed preposterous.
The detective rose, folded the sheets of paper and placed them in a
large pocket-book which he produced.
"And now, gentlemen," he said, "we have only one more formality to
fulfil, before I have the honour of taking my leave.
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