The door of the room was massive, and was fastened with a lock nearly a foot square.

It was evidently intended for some kind of protection to someone or something; but no one in those days had ever heard of anyone having been allowed even to see the room.

All this is _a propos_ of a suggestion on my part that the well-hole was a way by which the White Worm (whatever it was) went and came.

At that time I would have had a search made--even excavation if necessary--at my own expense, but all suggestions were met with a prompt and explicit negative.

So, of course, I took no further step in the matter.