Master Cheese groaned again.
"Are you much hurt?" asked Miss Deb in a sympathising accent.
"Oh-o-o-o-o-o-h!" moaned Master Cheese.
"Is there anything we can get for you?" resumed Miss Deb.
"Oh-o-o-o-o-o-h!" repeated Master Cheese. "A glass of wine might revive me."
"Get up," said Jan, "and let's see if you can walk. He's not hurt, Miss Deb."
Master Cheese, yielding to the peremptory movement of Jan's arm, had no resource but to show them that he could walk. He had taken a step or two as dolefully as it was possible for him to take it, keeping his eyes shut, and stretching out his hands before him, after the manner of the blind, when an interruption came from Miss Amilly.
"What can this be, lying here?"
She was bending her head near the old bureau, which had been rent in the explosion, her eyes fixed upon some large letter or paper on the floor. They crowded round at the words. Jan picked it up, and found it to be a folded parchment bearing a great seal.
"Hollo!" exclaimed Jan.