He had nothing more to do now, but with the iron tooth of the pickaxe to draw the stones towards him one by one.

The aperture was already sufficiently large for him to enter, but by waiting, he could still cling to hope, and retard the certainty of deception.

At last, after renewed hesitation, Dantes entered the second grotto.

The second grotto was lower and more gloomy than the first; the air that could only enter by the newly formed opening had the mephitic smell Dantes was surprised not to find in the outer cavern.

He waited in order to allow pure air to displace the foul atmosphere, and then went on.