"And I'm sure neither of us did," added each of his cousins.
"Perhaps there's a knot-hole in the box through which the cork might have been poked some time," suggested Elsie.
"I don't think there is," said Guy, moving towards the door. "But I'll soon see."
He returned a few moments later, but only to report that there was not the smallest crack or hole in the wood through which a pin could be dropped.
"It's certainly very funny," said Mr. Ormond. "The cork must have fallen out of some one's pocket after we'd opened the box. I may have dropped it in myself."
"But we heard it rolling about in the box some time ago," remarked Elsie.
"Well, it's a mystery," answered her father, laughing—"one which I can't explain."
The children prepared to retire to the breakfast-room and begin their day's lessons. Brian, however, had still one more question to ask.
"Uncle," he said, "supposing a thief had opened that box, wouldn't it be possible for him to imitate the seals?"
"Of course it would be possible to get a duplicate die made," was the answer. "But I'll tell you why I feel sure that in this case the locks have not been tampered with. Uncle Roger's seal came into my possession directly after his death, and has been in my safe ever since. In one place it was slightly damaged. There was a peculiar cut or scratch on the metal face, and I noticed that this cut was visible in the impression on the seals we broke just now. That could not have been imitated, and I'm quite convinced in my own mind that the box has not been opened."