He rose up, and we all followed him.  Leaving us in the outer hall, he went away alone for a few minutes; and returning, beckoned us to follow him.

In the inside hall we found a whole section of an outstanding angle moved away, and from the cavity saw a great hole dimly dark, and the beginning of a rough staircase cut in the rock.  As it was not pitch dark there was manifestly some means of lighting it naturally, so without pause we followed our host as he descended.  After some forty or fifty steps cut in a winding passage, we came to a great cave whose further end tapered away into blackness.  It was a huge place, dimly lit by a few irregular slits of eccentric shape.  Manifestly these were faults in the rock which would readily allow the windows be disguised.  Close to each of them was a hanging shutter which could be easily swung across by means of a dangling rope.  The sound of the ceaseless beat of the waves came up muffled from far below.  Mr. Trelawny at once began to speak: 

“This is the spot which I have chosen, as the best I know, for the scene of our Great Experiment.  In a hundred different ways it fulfils the conditions which I am led to believe are primary with regard to success.  Here, we are, and shall be, as isolated as Queen Tera herself would have been in her rocky tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerer, and still in a rocky cavern.  For good or ill we must here stand by our chances, and abide by results.  If we are successful we shall be able to let in on the world of modern science such a flood of light from the Old World as will change every condition of thought and experiment and practice.  If we fail, then even the knowledge of our attempt will die with us.  For this, and all else which may come, I believe we are prepared!” He paused.  No one spoke, but we all bowed our heads gravely in acquiescence.  He resumed, but with a certain hesitancy: 

“It is not yet too late!  If any of you have a doubt or misgiving, for God’s speak it now!  Whoever it may be, can go hence without let or hindrance.  The rest of us can go on our way alone!”

Again he paused, and looked keenly at us in turn.  We looked at each other; but no one quailed.  For my own part, if I had had any doubt as to going on, the look on Margaret’s face would have reassured me.  It was fearless; it was intense; it was full of a divine calm.

Mr. Trelawny took a long breath, and in a more cheerful, as well as in a more decided tone, went on: 

“As we are all of one mind, the sooner we get the necessary matters in train the better.  Let me tell you that this place, like all the rest of the house, can be lit with electricity.  We could not join the wires to the mains lest our secret should become known, but I have a cable here which we can attach in the hall and complete the circuit!” As he was speaking, he began to ascend the steps.  From close to the entrance he took the end of a cable;