The hole was very narrow. The Persian stopped almost at once. Raoul heard him feeling the stones around him. Then the Persian took out his dark lantern again, stooped forward, examined something beneath him and immediately extinguished his lantern. Raoul heard him say, in a whisper:

“We shall have to drop a few yards, without making a noise; take off your boots.”

The Persian handed his own shoes to Raoul.

“Put them outside the wall,” he said. “We shall find them there when we leave.” 7

He crawled a little farther on his knees, then turned right round and said:

“I am going to hang by my hands from the edge of the stone and let myself drop into his house . You must do exactly the same. Do not be afraid. I will catch you in my arms.”