Then he explained it in full.
The back of the press had been removed, and then replaced, in such a
manner that it would slide out about eighteen inches towards the window,
but only when the doors of the press were closed; when they were opened,
they drew out simultaneously a slip of wood on either side that pulled
the sliding door tight and immovable. Behind the back of the press, thus
removed, a corresponding part of the wainscot slid in the same way,
giving a narrow doorway into the cell which he had excavated between the
double beams of the thick wall. Next, when the person that had taken
refuge was inside, with the two sliding doors closed behind him, it was
possible for him, by an extremely simple device, to turn a wooden button
and thus release a little wooden machinery which controlled a further
opening into the parlour, and which, at the same time, was braced
against the hollow panelling and one of the higher beams in such a
manner as to give it, when knocked upon, the dullness of sound the girl
had noticed just now. But this door could only be opened from within.
Neither a fugitive nor a pursuer could make any entrance from the
parlour side, unless the wainscoting itself were torn off. Lastly, the
crack in the woodwork, corresponding with two minute holes bored in the
painted panel, afforded, when the picture was hung exactly straight, a
view of the parlour that commanded nearly all the room.
"I do not pretend that it is a fortress," said the young man, smiling
gravely.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226