Yet alas for Oltis—the greatest shock was to come. His humiliation and despair were not complete.
When the fleeing priests were without, the ‘Silent Priest’ moved nearer; and standing over him, severe in his majesty, gave utterance to speech. Fearful was it to hear his deep tones in the gruesome apartment, but more fearful to witness the great beads that started upon Oltis’ forehead at sound of this voice.
“Yea, Oltis—I can speak when I will. The time hath come. I have to say I go from thee for a little. I would look into the hidden things of the ‘Deeps.’ Then will I come back.”
In Oltis’ eyes was a look of utmost horror, and the perspiration rolled off him. Yet he stirred not—even when the ‘Silent Priest’ after lighting a hand lamp, had left the apartment to penetrate those mysteries which had been supposed so artfully veiled.
Deucalion entered the passage dividing the withdrawing rooms of Atlano, Oltis, and Urgis. Unheedful of the lavish luxury disclosed by the open doors, on he hastened, his eyes, his thoughts intent upon a door at the end that was set low in the wall.
Reaching this, he pressed the lower left hand corner. There was heard the sound of something smoothly moving. The door was disappearing within the wall, disclosing a stone stairway extending into darkness.
Lamp in hand, he darted down this to come upon two doors side by side. He pressed upon the lower right hand corner of the left one; and it yielded, gliding into the wall about the other which was but an imitation.
As though blinded, he stepped through.
When the film had cleared from his eyes, he beheld spreading deep, a vast, crypt-like apartment whose high ceiling was supported by pillars of red syenite; and about which were burning lamps securely fastened in niches. The walls were covered with a coating of lime so smooth that the figures painted thereon in rich colors and quite elegantly, stood out in fine relief.
As these figures treated of the gods and the future life, Deucalion would have been glad to study them, had the occasion allowed. As it was, he but glanced at them; and then his eyes darted from point to point. Almost instantly, at the farther end, where the shadows were thickest, they lighted upon some indistinct white objects, that moved with every vibration of the still rocking building.