"Never mind the ring, Joseph," said the young man. "Bring your rope
and lead me to the floor above."

"The floor above? But, your majesty, we cannot reach the vaults and
tunnel by going upward!"

"You forget, Joseph, that we are going to fetch the Princess Emma
first."

"But she is not on the floor above us, sire; she is upon the same
floor as we are," insisted the old man, hesitating.

"Joseph, who do you think I am?" asked Barney.

"You are the king, my lord," replied the old man.

"Then do as your king commands," said the American sharply.

Joseph turned with dubious mutterings and approached the tiled panel
at the left of the fireplace. Here he fumbled about for a moment
until his fingers found the hidden catch that held the cunningly
devised door in place. An instant later the panel swung inward
before his touch, and standing to one side, the old fellow bowed low
as he ushered Barney into the Stygian darkness of the space beyond
their vision.

Joseph halted the young man just within the doorway, cautioning him
against the danger of falling into the shaft, then he closed the
panel, and a moment later had found the lantern he had hidden there