“You do not comprehend. He lies in the grave. It is my belief—but I should alarm you.”
“They killed him?”
“Well, not so violent as that. He died—that is it—before our arrangements were complete.”
“Then you have tried to escape with others?”
“Yes, three times, and three times accident has baulked it. For that reason I wish you to get strong speedily, lest you should be removed to another room—”
“Or the grave!”
“Let us talk on other subjects. You do not ask how the hole was made, nor why. I will tell you. In the first place, it was made because I had hopes of escaping through your room, which was then unoccupied, and the door left open. That was vain, for it was afterwards occupied; then the hole was enlarged to let me and one of your predecessors converse, and to let him get into my room, as you will have to do.”
“Why?”
“Because your window is a French one; mine has a bar or upright up the centre, which is an essential element of escape.”
“Go on—how did you make the hole?”