A square aperture appeared, through which a man might descend, and peering over his shoulder I saw a flight of stairs reaching far downward.
De Pintra turned and took the candle from my hand.
“Follow me,” he said.
CHAPTER VI
THE SECRET VAULT
The stairs led us beneath the foundations of the house and terminated in a domed chamber constructed of stone and about ten feet in diameter.
In the floor of this chamber was a trapdoor, composed of many thicknesses of steel, and so heavy that it could be raised only by a stout iron windlass, the chain of which was welded to a ring in the door’s face.
Dom Miguel handed me the candle and began turning the windlass. Gradually but without noise the heavy door of metal rose, and disclosed a still more massive surface underneath.
This second plate, of highly burnished steel, was covered with many small indentations, of irregular formation. It was about three feet square and the curious indentations, each one of which had evidently been formed with great care, were scattered over every inch of the surface.
“Put out the light,” said de Pintra.
I obeyed, leaving us in total darkness.