"I didn't say it was heaped on the floor and left there," returned Betty.
"Where would it be?" asked Nikka.
"That's what we have to find out."
"What about the grating in the floor of the dungeon?" I cut in. "If they wanted to get into the drain—"
"But no man who had hidden a treasure in the drain would have relied on a drainage grating in a dungeon for means of access to it," answered Betty.
"That dungeon was a place for getting rid of special prisoners," interrupted King. "When the drain was actively in use, the water must often have backed up into the dungeon. I agree with Elizabeth that an Emperor hiding a vast treasure would not have utilized the grating for access to it."
Nikka closed the argument.
"I am on Betty's side in this," he said. "At the least, she has given us something definite to work on. Now, if you will take my advice, Hugh, you and Professor King, with Betty and Jack to help you, will be the treasure-hunting squad. I had best remain here to act as expeditionary liaison officer with Wasso Mikali and his people at need. And if you don't mind, I'll need Watkins as galloper."
Every one agreed to this plan, and the four of us immediately descended into the passage again. King made a careful study of the stonework, in which I assisted him, with a view to ascertaining beyond any doubt whether there was any sealed opening in its walls. Both of us considered this the logical first step, but Hugh and Betty wearied of so unexciting a task and left us to explore the upper end of the drain.
We had been at this for rather more than an hour, without the faintest hint of success, when we were interrupted by a hail from Hugh.