"Listen, Waldemar. Do you see on the face of the clock a little round dot marking the first hour? That dot is loose, isn't it? Put the fore-finger of your left hand on it and press. Good. Do the same with your thumb on the dot marking the third hour. Good. With your right hand, push in the dot at the eighth hour. Good. Thank you. Go and sit down, my dear fellow."
The minute-hand shifted, moved to the twelfth dot and the clock struck again.
Lupin was silent and very white. The twelve strokes rang out in the silence.
At the twelfth stroke, there was a sound as of a spring being set free. The clock stopped dead. The pendulum ceased swinging.
And suddenly, the bronze ornament representing a ram's head, which crowned the dial, fell forwards, uncovering a sort of little recess cut out of the stone wall.
In this recess was a chased silver casket.
Lupin took it and carried it to the Emperor:
"Would Your Imperial Majesty be so good as to open it yourself? The letters which you instructed me to look for are inside."
The Emperor raised the lid and seemed greatly astonished.
The casket was empty.