"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."
"What is that?" asked the Baron, beginning to show his impatience at last.
"Signor Malipieri—is that your name, sir? Yes. Signer Malipieri will be kind enough to let me and my men walk through the rooms of the apartment."
"I think that is quite unnecessary," Malipieri answered. "By this time Signor Sassi has probably recovered consciousness, and has told his own story, which will explain the accident."