The sound above stairs was growing more and more noisome, as if the
monks were being pressed back in the direction of the secret passage.
'Twas evident the Abbes intended this move; for unless there was
egress 'twould be a veritable slaughter hole and from the first they
had kept together, preferring the direction of retreat.
Suddenly one of the men in front of Buckingham leant down and traced
with his finger on the dusty stone,--
"They have moved it in this direction, and there is no mistaking it,"
and he pointed from the ladder.
They followed the direction, holding the light low, and came at once
upon what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Inadvertently the man
bearing the lighted taper rested his arm for a moment against the
stones. Instantly a blaze flared up and showed a very cleverly
concocted wall. A canvas had been padded in shape of unhewn stone and
painted in imitation; the oil in the paint had ignited and despoiled
the illusion.
The blaze was quenched in a moment, the canvas door pried open and the
three men passed beyond, carefully closing the door behind them.
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