I will keep the secret which mere chance has revealed to me.

To discover it, would be to kill Professor Liedenbrock! Let him find it out himself if he can.

I will never have it laid to my door that I led him to his destruction." Having formed this resolution, I folded my arms and waited.

But I had not reckoned upon one little incident which turned up a few hours after.
When our good Martha wanted to go to Market, she found the door locked.

The big key was gone.