He waved her off, but made no reply, while with his long bony finger he pointed at the brass-bound box.
"Where did it come from?" he asked in a shrill, querulous tone. "Who brought back my secret casket?"
"Yours?" came from every one in the room.
"Yes! Mine! Mine!!" he almost screamed.
"He's raving!" cried Josie. "Can't some one do something for him?"
"No," he replied, and his voice became more calm, "I am not raving. I know whereof I speak. Quick! Let me look within it to see that all is safe."
"It is locked, Father," said Lucia, coming to his side, "and we have no key."
"I can unlock it," he cried. "I can unlock it. Give it to me. Give it to me."
He staggered forward and seized the box in his hands. For several seconds he fumbled with it, turning it first upon one side and then upon another, and at last raised the lid. He thrust in his hand and then stopped as one stupefied.
"Empty! Empty!" he gasped in an almost audible whisper. "The plan of Montezuma's mine is gone! Gone!!"