O’Loughlin started, saying— “That is not possible; you saw the seal unbroken.” “Yes, yes,” said the solicitor; “there are more ways of opening caskets than with the key,” and then he rang the bell, and ordered the servant who answered the summons to tell his housekeeper to send up wine and refreshments. “Now, I beg you, Mr. Thornton,” continued the solicitor, addressing our hero, “I pray you to recall every circumstance that occurred after receiving the casket, for it may be quite possible that the contents might have been extracted previous to your receiving it from her hands.” “No, Mr. Stanmore,” returned the midshipman, “not previously, of that I am confident, and I will tell you my reason for being so. When introduced into the chamber where I first saw the Duchess of Coulancourt, and whilst conversing with her, I observed that casket on the table; the lid was up, and though I could not, or indeed thought of trying to inspect the contents, still I can safely say there were no shavings whatever in it. I observed her close the lid, lock it, and then affix the seal, after doing which she gave me the key; therefore, the Duchess could not have been deceived. Whilst conducting Miss Arden through the streets, several ruffians made efforts to get it from me, but they failed.” “Afterwards,” inquired Mr. Stanmore, “what did you do with the casket; that is, when you got back to the boats?” “I still held possession of it,” said the midshipman, “till we all got on board the dismasted frigate, where we were to remain for some hours, and where the Commissioners had prepared refreshments for us. Poor Mabel was so fatigued and overcome, that I begged her to lie down in a berth. I placed the casket at the foot of the berth, covered it over, and found it in the same place when we had directions to return to our ships.” “How long, Master Thornton,” questioned Mr. Stanmore, “do you think the casket remained in the berth with the little girl?” “Oh! I should say several hours, from three or four o’clock in the day till ten at night; we could not venture to cross the outward harbour till dark. I examined the casket when I took it up, and Mabel said she had not been disturbed by any one.” “Nevertheless,” observed Mr. Stanmore, rising and ringing the bell, and then taking up the casket he began carefully to examine it, “it is possible it may have been tampered with during those hours. I feel satisfied that shavings and lead were not its original contents, and that those contents could not be changed without hands. I am anxious to investigate the mystery as fully as possible. You see, Lieutenant O’Loughlin, it is beautifully put together, and all the edges clasped with silver plates,” and turning it up, he keenly examined the bottom, which had no plate of any kind across it. “There does not appear the slightest indication of any attempt at opening it,” observed the Lieutenant, carefully scrutinising it.