Roger obeyed. The task was an easy one, for the plaster was but half an inch thick, and came off in flakes; showing a massive copper door, three feet six in height, and three feet in width, behind it. No keyhole was visible.
"Press upwards against the lintel," the queen said. "That will release the catch of the door."
Roger did so, and at the same moment pushed with his shoulder against the door, and it swung round with ease.
"Do you enter first, with the torch, and we will follow," the queen said.
Roger found himself in a room about twelve feet square. At the farther end was a pile of gold bars, four feet deep and as much high, extending right across the room. On the floor, along the other two sides, were ranged a number of large chests.
"Open these," the queen said. "The gold is of no use to us."
The chests were full of manufactured gold ornaments, many of them studded with jewels. Roger was astounded at the amount of wealth thus stored away.
"Cacama told me," the queen said, "that even the treasure houses of Montezuma are poor, in comparison to the treasure his grandfather and father stowed away here; and I can well believe it. You have not opened that small chest, yet."
This was opened, and was found to contain a number of bags which were full of pearls, turquoise, and other precious stones, of large size and immense value.
"We will take this chest away, as it stands," the queen said.