"Where, then?"
"Don't you know? They sleep beneath Verdun, in this hill around which we are circling. I am looking for the entrance."
"Inside this hill? Under the town?"
"But you've heard of the citadelle?"
"Yes, but… this hill is so big."
"There are fifteen kilometres of tunnel in this hollow hill, and hundreds of steps lead up to the top by the palace, where there is a defence of barbed wire and guns. Look, here is the entrance."
They left the car. Before them was a small dark hole in the side of the hill, an entrance not much higher than a man, into which ran a single rail line of narrow gauge. A sentry challenged them as they walked towards him.
Entering the hill they found themselves in a tunnel lit by electric bulbs which hung in a dotted line ahead of them.
"Wait!" ordered the deep voice of the Russian, and he strode from them into the depths of the tunnel with the Eastern swing of Ali Baba entering his cave.
Fanny stood by the mild lieutenant, and they waited obediently.