"I never imagined the treasure would be in a place like this, all stowed away in old boxes! I thought we should press a secret spring, and a panel would fly open in the wall, and then we should see money and jewels lying together in a big heap!"
"I don't mind how we've found it, so long as it's here."
"Still, it's a surprise!"
"It will be a splendid surprise for Monica. This is actually her very own."
"She would have been content with a hundred guineas, and there are more than a hundred guineas here," said Cicely, letting some of the sovereigns slide through her fingers with a sigh of satisfaction.
"She ought to know about it at once," returned Lindsay. "If you can tear yourself away from these money bags, we'd better be thinking of going."
"Yes, I suppose it's time we went back. By the by, how are we to get out of this place?"
Ah! How to go back?—that was the question! The trapdoor had shut itself high above their heads.
"I expect if we stand on one of the boxes, we can push it up!" said Lindsay.
With much difficulty they dragged a heavy chest across the floor and climbed upon it. It was a fruitless effort. However hard they might try, the trapdoor would not budge an inch.