"It's a box big enough to stand on, held in a vertical shaft by a rope. They used to go up and down by clever use of weights, it's mechanical now, but the same basic principle." His voice is quiet as always, but no lower than usual, but to compensate he is speaking in Japanese. The explanation is the kind that he should not have to make to a man of the Twentieth Century, and he does not wish to risk being overheard.

The long, gnarled fingers very lightly grip Ichi's elbow, and The Shadow directs him up the hall towards the lift. It's not simply an aid to guide him, but a way for him to better match his usually swift pace to Ichi's slower one. There are no obstructions in the hall, though.