Suddenly, to Penny’s horror, the dust of the tarpaulin began to irritate her nose.
She fought against an impulse to sneeze but could not control it. Though she pressed both hands against her nose, a muffled ker-chew came from beneath the canvas.
Father Benedict halted, looking sharply about the darkened cloister.
“What was that?” he demanded.
“I didn’t hear nothin’,” replied Winkey, flashing his lantern on the pillars.
“I thought someone sneezed.”
“You’re getting jumpy, boss,” insisted the hunchback. “I sure didn’t hear nothing.”
“What’s that over there by the fountain?” Father Benedict demanded, noticing the tarpaulin.
“Only an old piece of canvas. I brought it up from the basement this afternoon.”
“For a second, I thought I saw it moving!”