The man said there was not.
"Do you know if there are chests or trunks here?"
"I think I have observed something of the kind," replied the Castellan.
"Fetch the workmen to move the things," ordered the Princess. "To-day every part of this attic shall be examined."
The Castellan hastened down. The Professor endeavored again to peep among the piled-up masses, but the glaring light from above dazzled his eyes. He looked at the princely child; she was standing in a costume of bright color at the door, like the fairy of the castle, who has ascended into the dwelling of the grey-bearded spirits of the house in order to accept their homage.
"It will be a long work, and your Highness will not like the dragging about of the dusty furniture."
"I will remain with you," exclaimed the Princess; "however contemptibly small may be my share in the discovery, I will not give it up."
Both were silent. The scholar moved about impatiently among the chairs. Moths fluttered in the clouds of dusty and a brown martin flew out from the nest which it had built in a corner of the window. All was still; there was no sound but a slight regular tapping, like a pendulum striking the hour, in the desolate room.
"That is the death-watch," whispered the Princess.
"The wood-worm is doing its work in the service of nature, it dissolves what is decayed, into its elements."