Mezzoni the Brigand — page 131: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. - $423 last stage in their perilous journey, every instant fearing lest they should be captured. CHAPTER XIII. A SECRET VAULT. Armed with a search-warrant, and accompanied by two officers of the loeal police, the English detec- tive knocked at the door of Alberto Corrello’s palace and demanded entrance. Fortunately for the peaceable transaction of the business which brought them there, the master was absent, a fact which the detective was pleased to know, though he had come prepared to execute his warrant at any cost. At first he led the way to the small court-yard in the rear of the palace, and kick- ing away a small accumulation of rubbish, there was at once disclosed an iron trap-door, set ina framework and locked securely. It was hidden in the most careless manner, but as no one was ad- mitted to the rear of the establishment, it was doubt- less secure enough. ~ Means were soon found to open this trap-door, and the officials descended a long, narrow stair-way of stone extending under the palace, where they came to asecond iron door, much more difficult to open than the first had been, but which finally yielded to their experienced fingers. This second door ad- mitted them into a subterranean room, with a stone floor and heavy walls of the same material. No daylight could enter here. It was low and damp, but the lanterns brought by the party soon discov-. ered, to their astonished eyes, its use. This underground apartment was the receptacle of cComicboo <S com