To the sergeant's astonishment instead of going to the block staircase he pulled a note-book and a pencil from his pocket, scrawled rapidly, and then said: "Come over here and look, sergeant."
The sergeant opened his mouth, saw Michael scowl at him, and shut it again. He went to him, and Michael thrust the open book into his hands. Just sound this wall," he said, proceeding to do so.
The sergeant's puzzled eyes read: "He's in the coffin. If we lift the lid one of us'll get shot. Pretend to go away; take shoes off in passage, creep back, crouch down at head and foot of coffin, and wait for lid to lift. Then collar him as he gets out."
"No, there's nothing here," Michael said loudly. "He's gone the other way. No use keeping those two up there by the tomb. I'll send them off to search the grounds."
The sergeant's wits worked slowly but surely. "Right, sir: I'll give the word to them." He stepped under the hollow tomb, and setting his hands to his mouth shouted: "He's got away. Search the grounds!"
"Come on then!" Michael said. "We've no time to lose."
Together they went back into the passage, and along it for some yards. At a sign from Michael the sergeant stopped and began to take off his boots. In another moment they stood up in their stockinged feet, and began to creep back to the crypt.
Michael had to take the risk of a light being seen inside the coffin; he turned his torch on for just long enough to locate the coffin. Then the light disappeared again, and in the dense darkness they went up to the coffin, and crouched down at each end.
Not a sound broke the stillness. Michael set his teeth, and tried to think what he would do if no one were in this coffin.
A creak almost made him start. The coffin lid was lifting. He stayed, ready to spring. The sound of a scrape and a thud told him that the lid had been lowered to the floor of the crypt. He heard a noise as of a body moving in the coffin; he rose stealthily. He was so near the coffin that he felt some rough material brush his cheek as he got up. It gave him the position of the Monk, and he made his spring. "Light, sergeant!" he shouted.