It was of a vault-like stillness, and the closing of the door behind Vanamee reechoed from corner to corner with a prolonged reverberation of thunder.
However, Father Sarria was not in the church.

Vanamee took a couple of turns the length of the aisle, looking about into the chapels on either side of the chancel.

But the building was deserted.

The priest had been there recently, nevertheless, for the altar furniture was in disarray, as though he had been rearranging it but a moment before.

On both sides of the church and half-way up their length, the walls were pierced by low archways, in which were massive wooden doors, clamped with iron bolts.