"The devil!" cried the American. "Madame Rochal--read!"
Zoya Rochal obeyed, translating rapidly.
"Ivan Shestov,
The American Rowland, imprisoned in vault. He will die unless door is forced. Lose no time. I am prisoner of Gregory Khodkine fleeing with bank notes into Germany by upper road--a machine--destination--Munich. Follow.
Tatyana."
As she finished, Rowland turned quickly to Picard.
"And Stepan----?"
"Dead, Monsieur. He resisted. Mademoiselle warned me. I obeyed Monsieur Khodkine until the time came, when I took this paper and fled. I have been running for two hours."
"You have done well, my friend. We shall lose no time. But how was Stepan killed?"
"Monsieur Khodkine said that he had broken the Golden Bough--that you, Monsieur Rowland, were killed and that he was the Priest of Nemi. We did not believe him. He ordered Stepan to carry the bank notes--which were already in the suit-case--along the road. Stepan refused to obey and Monsieur Khodkine struck him in the head with a stick. His body is near the road only a hundred yards or so from the wall."