“Of course,” he said to Malipieri, “you are quite sure of your statements.”

“Provided that you have written down exactly what I said,” Malipieri answered.

The detective rose and handed him the sheets, at which he glanced rapidly.

“Yes.  That is what I said.”

“Let me see,” Volterra put in, rising and holding out his hand.

He took the paper and read every word carefully, before he returned the manuscript.

“You might add,” he said, “that I have been most anxious to keep the excavations a secret because I do not wish to be pestered by reporters before I have handed over to the government any discoveries which may be made.”

“Certainly,” answered the man, taking his pen again, and writing rapidly.

Volterra was almost as anxious to get rid of him as Malipieri himself.  What the latter had said had informed him that in spite of the water the vaults could be reached, and he was in haste to go down.  He had, indeed, noted the fact that whereas Sabina had left his house with Sassi at five o’clock, the latter had been taken to the hospital only three quarters of an hour later, and he wondered where she could be; but it did not even occur to him as possible that she should be in Malipieri’s apartment.  The idea would have seemed preposterous.

The detective rose, folded the sheets of paper and placed them in a large pocket-book which he produced.

“And now, gentlemen,” he said, “we have only one more formality to fulfil, before I have the honour of taking my leave.”

“What is that?” asked the Baron, beginning to show his impatience at last.

“Signor Malipieri—­is that your name, sir?  Yes.  Signer Malipieri will be kind enough to let me and my men walk through the rooms of the apartment.”

“I think that is quite unnecessary,” Malipieri answered.  “By this time Signor Sassi has probably recovered consciousness, and has told his own story, which will explain the accident.”

“In the performance of my duty,” objected the detective, “I must go through the house, to see whether there are any traces of blood.  I am sure that you will make no opposition.”

Fate was closing in upon Malipieri, but he kept his head as well as he could.  He opened the door that led back to the hall.

“Will you come?” he said, showing the way.

The detective glanced at the other door, but said nothing and prepared to follow.

“I will stay here,” said the Baron, settling himself in the armchair again.

“Oh, no!  Pray come,” Malipieri said.  “I should like you to see for yourself that Sassi was not hurt here.”

Volterra rose reluctantly and went with the rest.  His chief preoccupation was to get rid of the detective and his men as quickly as possible.  Malipieri opened the doors as he went along, and showed several empty rooms, before he came to Masin’s.

“This is where my man sleeps,” he said carelessly.