“Doubtless, if opportunity could be found. But how is he to break down an iron door with his hands, or, with his hands dig through massive stone walls settled together and cemented by ages? I know that dungeon well. It is the strongest in all Egypt. Supreme strength and courage must have opportunity. Genius must have some capital of favorable circumstance on which to work. Even heroes must have ground on which to stand, and scope for their arms. No, I know the place too well to think that our young friend, full of resources as he is, can do anything to help himself till he is at least outside of the dungeon, or till some fitting tools have been introduced into it.”
“I knew the castle belonged to your ancestors, and is rightfully yours; but I did not suppose that you knew anything about the interior.”
“See here!” said the Egyptian, as he drew from the folds of his robe a parchment discolored by age, and unrolled it before her. “Here is a plan of the whole structure, cellars and dungeon included. This has come down to me through many generations, together with a written description of every part of the structure; and, though I have never set foot in it, I think I could find my way about it without the least difficulty. There has always lingered in the family a vague faith, be it superstition or not, that this noblest of the ancient Egyptian palaces was destined to come back to us some day; and so the eldest in our line has always made it a point to know as much about the structure as if he were in actual possession.”
“Explain the plan to me, my dear grandfather. It may somehow help us in what we have to do. I, too, would like to be able to thread my way alone over the whole.”
“Heaven (your Heaven) forbid that you shall have need to do so. Still, we have leisure for an explanation, at least in part; and it will be in the way of our family custom. This line (pointing) represents the high and massive stone wall that surrounds the whole palace, together with extensive grounds in the rear. There are three gates to this all surrounding wall—one in front, opening on a flight of steps to the river by which the master and his friends come and go; the others far back on the north and south sides and chiefly used by servants for communicating with the little hamlets that lie, one above and the other below the palace. On the river side of the inclosure rises the quadrangle of the palace. The front and two connected sides contain the state and family apartments: the rear is given up to servants and the various offices belonging to them. Of course the soldiers are quartered in this last. We will only study this part now. It is of only a single story above ground. Right here in the middle is a large room where doubtless the soldiers eat and drink: to the right and left of it are their lodging rooms and the kitchens. Directly under this common and mess room is the single dungeon of the castle, connected by a flight of steps with the mess room, and also by another flight through a heavy iron door with the rear grounds of the castle. One can reach the dungeon only through the iron door or by descending from the common mess room. The wine and provision cellars are to the right and left of the dungeon, and a narrow passage runs before the whole.”
“Has the dungeon any light and ventilation?” inquired Rachel anxiously.
“Only through the narrow grated opening in the wall by which food can be introduced without opening the door; and the narrow passage before all the vaults is only dimly lighted by a barred opening near the ceiling at either end.”
“Would Aleph have light enough to read a note or this plan of yours?”
“It may be. Such eyes as his can do what mine could not. I have sometimes thought that they furnished their own light. But whoever could put a note through that grate could introduce a narrow lamp or taper also.”
“If a pointed iron bar could be secretly introduced by the custodes through the grate, would Aleph be able to pry open the door?”