I could not entirely throw off the sense of being buried alive in this dismal hole.

I wondered if there was any way of escape, if that secret door was not locked and unlocked only from without.

A desire to ascertain led me to take candle in hand, and climb the circular staircase, examining the wall as I passed upward.

The interior of the chimney revealed nothing.

While I felt convinced there must also be a false fireplace on the first floor, so as to carry out the deception, the dim candle light made no revealment of its position.