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"At least," Sabina said, "no one can hear us here." "Hush!" He suspected that Toto must have got out, but was not sure. After lighting a candle, he led the way into his study, and made Sabina sit down, while he went back. He returned in a few moments, having assured himself that Toto had escaped by the window, and that Masin was not in, and asleep. "Masin has disappeared," he said.
"Why?" asked Masin with some surprise. "Half is two francs fifty," answered Toto. "That is your share." Masin laughed and shook his head. "No," he said. "What is given to you is not given to me. Why should I share with you?" "It is our custom," Toto replied. "Take your half." Masin refused stoutly, but Toto insisted and grew angry at last.
Those boards that are over the shaft will do to make a little frame, and the stones are all here, just as we got them out. We can fasten up the frame with ends of rope." "We have no mortar, sir." "Mud will do as well for such a small job," answered Malipieri. "We can easily make enough. Give me your iron, in case he tries to get out, and go and get the boards and the rope." Masin began to rise.
Masin worked doggedly and systematically, and Malipieri imitated him as well as he could, but more than once nearly blinded himself with the flying chips of stone, and though he was strong his hands ached and trembled at the end of the day, so that he could hardly hold a pen. To Masin it was easy enough, and was merely a question of time and patience.
Malipieri watched her face, but her expression showed no signs of any inward disturbance. "Are you sure that nobody will interrupt us?" she asked, as Masin went out and shut the door. "Quite sure. What can I do to serve you?" "I have had this disgusting letter."
Masin must have come out of the great archway on the side of it which Toto could not see. The steps went on steadily along the gravel. Masin was going to the vaults. Toto waited ten minutes, and began to think that no one else was coming, and that Malipieri had left the palace, though he had been convinced that the architect and his man meant to go down to the vaults together.
The Baroness would be much angrier by and by, when she knew what had really happened, and it must all be known, of course. When Sassi was sure that Masin could not get the two out of the vault himself, or with such ordinary help as he could procure, he would have to go to the Baron, who would instantly inform the authorities, and bring an engineer and a crowd of masons to break a way.
This one was near the entrance, and if, in breaking their way in, Malipieri and Masin had not necessarily destroyed the cement on each side of the slit, they would have found the marks where the dead man's crowbar had worked desperately for a few minutes before he had been drowned.
Malipieri looked at him and smiled. "For a prisoner, you are very obliging," he said, and he gave him a five-franc note, which Toto took with a grunt of thanks. Masin was gone an hour, during which time Malipieri busied himself in the next room, leaving the door open. He went out when Masin came back. When the two men were together Toto produced the five francs. "Can you change?" he enquired.
If the man managed to pass us he might get out this way." He led the way down, making as little noise as possible. Masin held up his lantern, peering into the gloom over Malipieri's shoulder. "No one could pass the other door without breaking it down," Malipieri said.
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