Chapter 3

           FromthatfrightfulsmellandthatuncannynoiseWillett’sattentioncouldnolongerbediverted.Bothwereplainerandmorehideousinthegreatpillaredhallthananywhereelse,andcarriedavagueimpressionofbeingfarbelow,eveninthisdarknetherworldofsubterrenemystery.Beforetryinganyoftheblackarchwaysforstepsleadingfurtherdown,thedoctorcasthisbeamoflightaboutthestone-flaggedfloor.Itwasverylooselypaved,andatirregularintervalstherewouldoccuraslabcuriouslypiercedbysmallholesinnodefinitearrangement,whileatonepointtherelayaverylongladdercarelesslyflungdown.Tothisladder,singularlyenough,appearedtoclingaparticularlylargeamountofthefrightfulodorwhichencompassedeverything.AshewalkedslowlyaboutitsuddenlyoccurredtoWillettthatboththenoiseandtheodorseemedstrongestabovetheoddlypiercedslabs,asiftheymightbecrudetrap-doorsleadingdowntosomestilldeeperregionofhorror.Kneelingbyone,heworkedatitwithhishands,andfoundthatwithextremedifficultyhecouldbudgeit.Athistouchthemoaningbeneathascendedtoalouderkey,andonlywithvasttrepidationdidhepersevereintheliftingoftheheavystone.Astenchunnameablenowroseupfrombelow,andthedoctor’sheadreeleddizzilyashelaidbacktheslabandturnedhistorchupontheexposedsquareyardofgapingblackness.