"
That settled their destiny. All this blaze of diamonds, rubies,
and opals were Leoline's; and with the energetic rapidity
characteristic of our young friend that morning, he swept them
out on the table, and resumed his search for papers. No document
was there to reward his search, but the brief one twined round
the necklace; and he was about giving up in despair, when a small
brass slide in one corner caught his eye. Instantly he was at
it, trying it every way, shoving it out and in, and up and down,
until at last it yielded to his touch, disclosing an inner
drawer, full of papers and parchments. One glance showed them to
be what he was in search of - proofs of Leoline and Hubert's
identity, with the will of the marquis, their father, and
numerous other documents relative to his wealth and estates.
These precious manuscripts he rolled together in a bundle, and
placed carefully in his doublet, and then seizing a
beautifully-wrought brass casket, that stood beneath the table,
he swept the jewels in, secured it, and strapped it to his belt.
This brisk and important little affair being over, he arose to
go, and in turning, saw the skeleton porter standing in the
door-way, looking on in speechless dismay.
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