*CHAPTER XXI.*
*A SECRET TREASURE-HOUSE.*
Jack's theory proved to be well founded. In the middle of the clump ofbushes they discovered a portion of an old tree-trunk. It was aboutthree feet high by, perhaps, four feet in diameter. A glance over theside showed that it was hollow, and that inside it there were some stepsleading downwards.
Jack pointed to them in quiet triumph. 'Are you going to explorefarther?' he asked Alondra, in a low tone scarcely above a whisper.'Because, if you are, I should suggest that we go very quietly.'
'Yes; I 'm going to find out what it all means,' said Alondra firmly.
'What about arms?' queried Jack dubiously.
'I have my trident, or I had,' Alondra answered. 'I must have left itsomewhere about on the floor.'
Jack went back to look for it, and Alondra followed; but it was nowhereto be seen.
'It has disappeared!' exclaimed Alondra, bewildered. 'What can havebecome of it? I remember putting it down when I went, towards the poolto pick one of those terrible flowers. Are you sure you have not pickedit up, either of you?'
'What should we do with it--put it in one of our pockets?' laughed Jack.'No; this is one more proof that what you saw was reality and not avision of your fanciful brain. Some one was here--some one who coollylooked on while you were struggling for your life in the grasp of thedreadful floral monster beside yonder pretty-looking fountain. Some onewho wears diamonds on his breast, and was in too great a hurry to noticethat the bushes had scratched one off in passing. Some one, finally,who has walked off with your trident.'
'True. But why did he take that?'
'It seems to me that the reason is not difficult to guess at. It tellsa little tale to me by itself. He considered that you were as good asdead, and would have no further use for your trident. So, as it is avery beautifully ornamented one, he thought he might as well have it.'
'I 'm afraid you must be right!' Alondra rejoined, with a slight shiver.'Yet, I don't understand it! However, let us see what we can find out.As to arms, who would dare to lay a hand openly on me?'
As Alondra asked this last question he drew himself up proudly, and hiseyes flashed.
'It's not for me to say,' Jack remarked, with a philosophical air.'Gerald and I have our own arms--what we call revolvers when we are athome. They're not like yours, though. They hurt if they are usedproperly, as you know.'
The two went back to where they had left Gerald, and a little later theywere all three creeping noiselessly down the steps inside the hollowtree-trunk. At the bottom they found themselves in another passage,which they calculated must run under the floor of the glass-house, andthen under the garden. It was in darkness, save for a little glimmerwhich came down the steps they had descended.
'Now, I wonder where this goes to?' muttered Jack. 'It doesn't seem tome to lead to the palace. I fancy it runs in the opposite direction.'
Alondra produced from his pocket a little electric lamp, and by its aidthey followed the passage for some distance. Then they came to moresteps, which went much farther down into the ground. They also came toother side-passages, which branched off in different directions. Soonthe passage became wider and higher, and finally ended in a heavilybarred door, which, however, was standing ajar.
They listened cautiously, and, hearing no one about, pushed it open, andsuddenly found themselves in a blaze of light. Yet it was certain thatthey were not in the open air.
They stared around, and then up, in wondering astonishment. They seemedto be in another glass-house, for certainly there was some kind oftransparent or semi-transparent roof overhead. But the light was not thelight of the sky exactly. It was a strange reflected light, such aspuzzled the three who gazed at it.
Then an idea flashed into Jack's mind. 'I know what it is!' hewhispered. 'We are looking up through water! This place is builtunderneath the large lake in the gardens.'
'Yes, you are right. It must be so,' Alondra agreed. 'But why? Thismust be some place constructed in this strange fashion on purpose thatits very existence should be kept a secret! Now, why is that, I wonder?I do not believe that my father even knows of its existence. But whyall this secrecy? There seems to be no one about. Let us try to findout what it all means.'
One thing they found it undoubtedly was--a treasure-house. They quicklysaw enough to convince them that Agrando had a great store of treasurehere. But there were also roomy chambers, and a spacious central place,with a great dome as large as a good-sized theatre, and not unlike one,having banks of seats around, one behind the other, arranged likesemicircular steps. The use of this building seemed very doubtful, asdid that of some small, dark side-chambers--mere cells--of which therewere quite a number about.
While the explorers were wondering what it all meant, they heard thesound of voices. Jack pointed to one of the small cells high up in thewall, and led the way up the banks of seats, stepping from one to theother like going upstairs.
The cell had a strong door, the upper part of which consisted of agrille, and when they were well inside they pulled it to after them.Then, peering through the grille, they could see nearly all over theinterior. The voices drew nearer, and in a few moments there enteredKing Agrando, Kazzaro, and Zuanstroom, with two attendants, each of whombore small sacks. Judging by their manner, the sacks were pretty heavy.
'That will do. Put them down there!' ordered Agrando. 'We can examinethem better here than in the other chambers. This has the best light ofany.' The centre was occupied by a circular platform or staging ofstonework, the use or meaning of which the three hidden spectators hadnot been able to guess at. Upon this the attendants deposited theirbags, and immediately withdrew.
When assured that their servitors were out of sight and hearing,Zuanstroom opened the bags, and turned out from one a sparklingcollection of jewellery of all kinds and designs, and from the other adazzling heap of unset stones, some of them of great size andbrilliancy.
It was curious to see the expressions of greed and avarice which creptinto the features of the king and his favourite as they gazed upon thisdisplay.
'There!' cried Zuanstroom triumphantly, 'have I not kept my word? HaveI not done as I promised? You doubted whether I could perform what Isaid; but you see I've managed it, spite of all Ivanta's edicts andprecautions! He little dreams that all these are now in your hands,instead of reposing peacefully in his own treasure-house until it suitshis royal fancy to allow me to deal as I please with my own. Ah, he isa clever man, in many ways--a wonderful man; but he does not knoweverything! He has yet to learn the real power that lies in diamonds. Ilearned it long ago! There is nothing too difficult to attain, noliving being you cannot bribe, if you have only diamonds enough!'
Jack had put a hand on Alondra as a hint to keep his feelings undercontrol. And it was well he had done so, for he felt him start, andcould tell that he was battling with his rising indignation as helistened to this talk. Jack, however, had quickly decided in his ownmind that it would be better to keep their presence there a secret ifpossible, and the pressure of his hand upon the young prince said soplainly. Alondra, on his side, was forced to admit to himself that Jackwas right as to this; though he did so all unwillingly.
There ensued a good deal of talk between Agrando and the other two, thewhile that they turned the scintillating heaps over and over, but it wascarried on for the most part in such low tones that the listeners heardbut little of what was said. Now and then they heard exclamations, orcaught scraps of sentences, but these did not convey much information.
At last the conspirators put the two heaps back into their respectivereceptacles, which they themselves then carried into another chamber.Presumably, they there locked them up in some vault, and went their way;and all once more became quiet.
'Now's our time!' said Jack. 'If you take my advice, Prince, we shallslip back the way we came, and get out--if we're lucky enough to meet noone--throu
gh the glass-house where we found you. I should keep what youhave learned to yourself till you are safely back home, and then tellyour royal father, who will know what to do better than you or I, or MrMonck.'
'I think you are right,' said Alondra musingly, 'although'----
'I am sure Jack is right,' Gerald put in. 'Those men, now that the fireof covetousness has been lighted in their breasts, would stick atnothing. They would murder you, and me, and all your suite, as soon aslook at us, rather than give up their booty, or rather than risk ourtelling King Ivanta. So we'd better be discreet and keep still tonguesin our heads.'
They left their hiding-place and made their way down the rows of seats.When, however, they reached the floor, Alondra looked round andwhispered, 'I should like very much to know what this place is used for.It must have been constructed for some distinct purpose, and whateverthe purpose it was a secret one. I see many things about, the uses ofwhich I confess I do not understand, and yet I cannot help guessing; butI hope I am not right in my guesses, for they make me shudder.'
'I think I know what is in your mind,' returned Jack gloomily. 'I fancythe same thoughts came into mine; but I deemed it better not to sayanything about them at present.'
As he spoke they distinctly heard a door opened and the sound of voices.There was nothing for it but to regain their former place ofconcealment. They had hardly entered it and closed the door, when anumber of people came bursting into the place, looking about them asthough in search of some one.