* * * * * They had now examined every packet in the safe: they had looked at every paper: they had opened every book and searched through all the leaves. There was no doubt left: the certificates were not there. Checkley began to tie up the bundles again. His master sat down trying to remember something--everything--that could account for their disappearance. CHAPTER XI A MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY The safe disposed of, there remained a cupboard, two tables full of drawers, twenty or thirty tin boxes. Checkley examined every one of these receptacles. In vain. There was not anywhere any trace of the certificates. 'Yet,' said Mr. Dering, 'they must be somewhere. We have been hunting all the morning, and we have not found them. They are not in this room. Yet they must be somewhere. Certificates and such things don't fly away. They are of no use to any one. People don't steal certificates. I must have done something with them.' 'Did you take them home with you?' 'Why should I do that? I have no safe or strong-room at home.' 'Did you send them to the Bank for greater safety? To be sure, they would be no more safe there than here.' 'Go and ask. See the manager. Ask him if he holds any certificates of mine.' The clerk turned to obey. 'No.' Mr. Dering stopped him. 'What's the good? If he held the things, there would have been dividends. Yet what can I do?' For the first time in his life the lawyer felt the emotion that he had often observed in clients at times of real disaster. He felt as if there was nothing certain: not even Property: as if the law itself, actually the law--was of no use. His brain reeled: the ground was slipping under his feet, and he was falling forward through the table, and the floor and the foundation--forward and down--down--down. 'What can I do?' he repeated. 'Checkley, go. See the manager. There may be something to find out. I can't think properly. Go.'