Brownie’s keys, which were held together in a bunch by a steel ring, hung by one of their number in the trunk from which she had taken her evening dress on the night of the opera.
Isabel’s quick eye soon caught sight of them, and, with a cry of pleasure, she darted across the room to secure them, then returned to the desk, and finally succeeded in fitting the right key in its lock.
The desk, in itself, was nothing remarkable, for it had seen long usage, but its contents were rare and lovely.
A golden penholder and pen lay within; also an elaborate paper knife of the same metal; a silver paper weight of exquisite workmanship and design; a seal of onyx, in which blazed a huge ruby; besides several other things; and all these were marked with the same initials, “E. H.”
Isabel lifted the inner lid, and, behold! the casket of ebony, inlaid with pearl, which Miss Mehetabel had given Brownie on that last day of her life, was within.
There were also several packages of letters and papers, but to these she paid no heed.
“I have found them,” she cried, and was about to seize the casket, when she caught the sound of a footstep outside the door.
Her heart stood still with fear, and cold chills crept down her back.
She had not dreamed that Miss Douglas would return so soon, for she had heard her tell Alma she would be gone for an hour or more.
She would not be caught in this contemptible act for all the jewels in the queen’s crown, and she began to look about for some way of escape.