University of Virginia Library

8. CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.
THE SECRET PASSAGE.

In a lofty chamber, hung with tapestry of purple,
embroidered with rare and pleasant designs,
and lighted by lamps of gold, depending from the
ceiling, Adrian and the Monk rested themselves
after their arduous exploit.

In one corner of the apartment stood a gorgeous
bed, with a canopy of silver and gold hangings, surmounted
by a Ducal coronet. Around were strewn
couches of the most inviting softness, and every
thing in the chamber wore an appearance of luxury
and ease.

Adrian reposed on a couch of velvet, and by his
side was seated the monk. Before them was placed
a small table, on which stood several flasks of rich
wine, together with more substantial refreshments.

“Truly, sir monk,” said Adrian, filling a goblet
of wine, “I have heard of many unmannerly acts,
but this deed of mine does seem to me to be the
most nnmannerly of all. I not only tied the brave
duke, lashed him in the Cell of the Doomed, used
his gallant steed, and worshipful name, but, forsooth!
I must also repose me upon his couches,
and refresh me with his wine!” And Adrian
laughed.

“Thou art merry, young sir. But an hour
since —”

The monk was interrupted by a slight knocking
under the tapestry. Adrian started up, and drew
his sword, taking the precaution, however, to resume
the scarlet cloak, and slouching hat. The

knocking grew louder. The monk removed the
tapestry in the part from whence the sound proceeded,
and having pressed a spring, a secret door
in the wainscotting flew open, and a woman of
beautiful countenance, and rich attire, was discovered.

“Thou here, stern priest!” said the damsel, in a
sweet voice, “I would speak with my lord.”

“Marianne, thou canst not see him to-night; he
hath no time to trifle with such as thou.”

The monk closed the door, and, turning to
Adrian, said,

“Another of this miscreant's victims, Adrian. It
was fortunate she did not see thee closely, for her
eye would have detected where hundreds might
look without suspicion. And now let us away;
every moment increases thy danger; the duke may
even now have freed himself, and set his minions
in chase.”

“To fly, I am willing, sir monk; but whither?”

“Follow me,” said the monk, as he lighted a
small lamp of silver. He then removed the tapestry,
and discovered a secret door opposite the one
afore-mentioned. This the monk entered, followed
by Adrian, and a stairway of stone, some two feet
in width, was revealed; it was cut into the wall
and over-arched, and the distance between the steps,
and the arch not more than four feet.

With great care the monk led the way down the
steps of stone, until they numbered thirty, when
they terminated in a narrow platform, which, indeed,
was nothing more than a step somewhat
longer than the others. Here our adventurers descended
another stairway, likewise ending in a
platform, and then yet another stairway was terminated
by another platform; and thus they descended
stairway after stairway, and crossed platform
after platform, until the increasing coldness
and dampness of the atmosphere, warned them that
they had penetrated far below the surface of the
earth.

Suddenly the stairway ended in a large and
gloomy vault, with walls and floor of the unhewn
rock. On the side nearest the stairway, a gate of
iron was erected between the points of two large
and irregular rocks. Through a large crevice which
time had worn into this gate, the monk and Adrain
passed into a vault like the former, except that the
dim light of the taper discovered the rough floor
strewn with grinning skulls, and whitened bones.
Along this dreary place strode the monk, lighting
the way, while, at his back followed Adrain Di
Albarone. In about a quarter of an hour the vault
narrowed into a confined passage, along which
they crawled on hands and knees. This terminated
in another vault, sloping upwards with a
gradual ascent, which having traversed, our adventurers
found themselves again between two
narrowing walls, and finally, all further progress
was stopped by a large stone thrown directly across
the path. Adrian spoke for the first time in half
n hour—

“And are we to be baulked after all the adventures
of this night?”

The monk answered by pointing to the stone, to
which he and his companion presently laid their
shoulders, but their united strength was insufficient
to remove it. Again they tried, and again were
they unsuccessful; they made a third attempt, and
the stone was precipitated before them. Seizing
the light, Adrian threw himself into the breach,
and discovered an extensive vault, hedged in by
walls built of hewn stone, while the floor was covered
by rows of coffins, with here and there a
monument of marble. Throwing themselves into
this place, they picked their way through the
dreary line of coffins, when they came to a wide
sraircase, which they ascended, until they found it
suddenly terminated by the archway above.

The monk raised his hand, and drawing a bolt
which Adrian had not perceived, he pushed with
all his strength against the archway, and a trapdoor
rose above the heads of our adventurers.—
Through this passage the monk ascended, followed
by Adrian, who looked around with a gaze of wonder,
and found himself standing in the aisle of the
Grand Cathedral of Florence.

The moonbeams streaming through the lofty
arched windows of stained glass, threw a dim light
upon the high altar with its cross of gold, and
faintly revealed the line of towering pillars which
arose to the dome of the cathedral, as vast and
magnificent it extended far above.

“My son,” cried the monk, “give thanks to God
for thy deliverance.”

And there, in that lone aisle, as the deep toned
bell of the cathedral tolled the third hour of the
morning, did Adrian and the monk fall lowly on
the marble pavement, and, prostrating themselves
before the sublime symbol of our most holy faith,
give thanks to God, the Virgin, and the Saints, for
their most wonderful escape.