“Of course, it must, and the very first of all! But I am not going to enter minutely into these things now, Hankes. I need a little of that rest you were just recommending me to take. Be here to-morrow at twelve; do not mention my arrival to any one, but come over with the Ossory statement and the two or three other most important returns.” Mr. Hankes rose to withdraw; and as he moved towards the door, his eye caught the oaken box, with three large seals placed by his own hand. “You have scarcely had time to think about these papers, sir; but they will have their importance when that peerage case comes to be discussed. The Lackingtons were Conways--” “Let me have a look at them,” said Dunn, rapidly. Hankes broke open the paper bands, and unlocked the box. For some time he searched through the documents as they lay, and then emptying them all upon the table, he went over them more carefully, one by one. “Good heavens!” cried he, “how can this be?” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Dunn; “you do not pretend that they are missing?” “They are gone,--they are not here!” said the other, almost fainting from agitation. “But these are the seals you yourself fastened on the box.” “I know it,--I see it; and I can make nothing of it.” “Mr. Hankes, Mr. Hankes, this is serious,” said Dunn, as he bent upon the affrighted man a look of heart-searching significance. “I swear before Heaven--I take my most solemn oath--” “Never mind swearing; how could they have been extricated? That is the question to be solved.” Hankes examined the seals minutely; they were his own. He scrutinized the box on every side to see if any other mode of opening it existed; but there was none. He again went through the papers,--opening, shaking, sifting them, one by one; and then, with a low, faint sigh, he sank down upon a chair, the very image of misery and dismay. “Except it was the devil himself--” “The devil has plenty of far more profitable work on hand, sir,” said Dunn, sternly; and then, in a calmer tone, added, “Is it perfectly certain that you ever saw the documents you allude to? and when?” “Saw them? Why, I held them in my hands for several minutes. It was I myself replaced them in the box before sealing it.” “And what interval of time occurred between your reading them and sealing them up?” “A minute,--half a minute, perhaps; stay,” cried he, suddenly, “I remember now that I left the room to call the landlord. Miss Kellett remained behind.” With a dreadful imprecation Dunn struck his forehead with his hand, and sank into his seat. “What cursed folly,” cried he, bitterly, “and what misfortune and ruin may it beget!” “It was then that she took them,--that was the very moment,” muttered Hankes, as he followed on his own dreary thoughts. “My father was right,” said Dunn, below his breath; “that girl will bring sorrow on us yet.”