In a sense, the vault represents all the corruption, hypocrisy, and injustice within the Church that goes unnoticed by undiscerning outsiders. Now, as Lorenzo and his troops venture deeper into the hidden passageways, perhaps some of these secrets will finally come to light. Indeed, the groaning sound that the nuns claim to hear in the distance hints that at least one hidden secret is on the verge of discovery. Readers may have some suspicions as to the source of the sound: it could be Antonia awakening from her drug-induced slumber. Or it could even be Agnes.