None can
come into that tower, nor is it used for purposes of war, not standing
upon any wall, and there she might sit at peace and see the sun; yet I
fear to let her do so."
"It must be risked," answered Nehushta. "Take me to visit this place."
So Ithiel led her to the cistern, and from the cistern up a flight of
steps to a little vaulted chamber, into which they entered through
a stone trap-door, made of the same substance as the paving of the
chamber, so that, when it was closed, none would guess that there was
a passage beneath. From this old store-room, for such it doubtless was,
ran more steps, ending, to all appearance, in a blank wall. Coming to
it, Ithiel thrust a piece of flat iron, a foot or more in length, into a
crack in this wall, lifted some stone latch within, and pushed, whereon
a block of masonry of something more than the height and width of a man,
and quite a yard in thickness, swung outwards. Nehushta passed through
the aperture, followed by Ithiel.
"See," he said, loosing his hold of the stone, which without noise
instantly closed, so that behind them there appeared to be nothing but a
wall, "it is well hung, is it not? and to come hither without this iron
would be dangerous.
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