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Updated: July 29, 2025
"I never saw that gentleman before," said Malipieri, setting some papers in order, under the bright light, but still standing. "Did you look at his face?" "Yes, sir," answered Masin, and waited. "What sort of man should you take him to be?" "A spy, sir," replied Masin promptly. "I think you are right," Malipieri answered. "We will begin work to- morrow morning." "Yes, sir."
Masin and I shall be out together for a little while." Masin shut the tall window, screwed the stout little eye-bolts into the frame and ran the bolt of the padlock through both. He gave the key to Malipieri. Toto watched the operation indifferently. "If you please," he said, "I am accustomed to have a little wine about half-past five every day. I will pay for it."
Hour after hour they toiled thus together, far down under the palace, in the damp, close air, that was cold and yet stifling to breathe. The hole was now over two feet deep. Suddenly, as Masin delivered a heavy blow, the drill ran in an inch instead of recoiling in Malipieri's tight hold. "Bricks," said Masin, resting on the haft of the long hammer.
Masin's china-blue eyes brightened at the thought of a possible fight, and his hold tightened again on his drill. "What shall we do with him?" he asked, looking down into the hole. Cunning, as the Italian peasant is by nature, Masin made a sign to his master that the man, if he were really below, could hear all that was said. "Shall I go down and kill him, sir?"
He nodded and went out followed by Masin, and Toto heard the key turned twice in the solid old lock. The door was strong, and they would probably lock the front door of the apartment too. Toto listened quietly till he heard it shut after them in the distance. Then he rose and flattened his face against the window pane. He waited some time.
He was from the far north of Italy, and was, of course, hated by his companions, as only Italians of different parts of the country can hate one another. To shield one of themselves, they unanimously gave evidence against Masin; the jury was chiefly composed of Romans, the judge was a Sicilian, and Masin had no chance.
The sea loudly announces its presence here, the tide overflowing much of the low ground, hence the Malay name, bandjir = overflow, masin = salt water. Large clumps of a peculiar water-plant float on the river in Bandjermasin in great numbers, passing downward with the current, upward with the tide, producing a singular, but pleasing sight.
There is something especially gloomy and mysterious about the noise of unexplained water heard at a great depth under the earth and coming out of darkness. Even the rough men with him felt that. "It is bad to hear," observed Masin, putting one more stone upon the boards, as if the weight could keep the sound down. "You may say that!" answered Toto. "And in this tomb, too!"
He let himself in and locked the postern door behind him. The porter and his wife were asleep and the glass window of the lodge door was quite dark. Malipieri lighted a wax taper and went upstairs. Masin was waiting, and opened when he heard his master's footsteps on the landing. As a rule, he went to bed, if Malipieri went out in the evening; both men were usually tired out by their day's work.
The wood of the frames was old, and the heavy strain drew the screw-eyes straight out. Toto opened the window noiselessly and looked out with caution. No one was in sight. By this time the three were in the vaults, with Masin.
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