"I told you what it would be, old man. This is the fulfilment of my prophecy. I knew it would come."
He moved his hand and let it fall to his side.
"I'm all wet," he went on, after a long pause. "By Jove! it's blood. Then it's hopeless. Well, I don't know that I'm sorry. But there is something else we have to do. When I came in he was burrowing behind that box there. Look for yourself. Don't bother about me."
He pointed to a box in the corner, and Ellison went towards it, and pulled it into the centre of the room.
"What do you see?"
"Nothing at all. Stay, there's a matchbox here."
He stooped and picked it up.
"Open it quickly—quickly!"
Ellison did as he was ordered.
"The pearl—the pearl! Here it is safe and sound!"