"It has not been opened with a dagger, I am sure of it."
"How do you know this?"
"I see it, papa; the man must have had a spiral spring."
"A spiral spring?"
"Yes; such as is used in pocket watches."
"You are right."
"And he did his work carelessly, for he left this little piece sticking in the lock." And with these words Spero triumphantly held up a small piece of steel.
Monte-Cristo clasped the boy in his arms. Spero was the worthy pupil of the man whose powers of observation had been sharpened during his intercourse with the Abbe Faria.
"And now you shall know who the man was that broke in here," said the count, pushing aside the diamonds which more than half filled the middle drawer of the safe. "Look here! what is this?"
"A dagger, father," said Spero, in affright.