He let himself in and locked the postern door behind him. The porter and his wife were asleep and the glass window of the lodge door was quite dark. Malipieri lighted a wax taper and went upstairs.
Masin was waiting, and opened when he heard his master's footsteps on the landing. As a rule, he went to bed, if Malipieri went out in the evening; both men were usually tired out by their day's work.
"What is the matter?" Malipieri asked.
"There is somebody in the vaults," Masin answered. "I had left my pipe on a stone close to the padlocked door and when you were gone I took a lantern and went down to get it. When I came near the door I was sure I heard some one trying it gently from the other side. I stopped to listen and I distinctly heard footsteps going away. I ran forward and tried to find a crack, to see if there were a light, but the door is swollen with the dampness and fits tightly. Besides, by the time I had reached it the person inside must have got well away."
"What time was it?" asked Malipieri, slipping off his light overcoat.
"You went out at nine o'clock, sir. It could not have been more than half an hour later."
"Light both lanterns. We must go down at once. See that there is plenty of oil in them."
In five minutes both men were ready.
"You had better take your revolver, sir," suggested Masin.
Malipieri laughed.