Part 62 (1/2)
”It seems to me there is something queer about these postscripts,” she said, at last; ”something is needed to make them clear. Is this the entire letter?--didn't you find anything else?”
”Nothing!” said Croyden.
”May I look?” she asked.
”Most a.s.suredly, sweetheart.”
”It's a bit dark in this hole. Let me have a match.”
She struck it, and peered back into the recess.
”Ah!” she exclaimed. ”Here is something!--only a corner visible.” She put in her hand. ”It has slipped down, back of the false part.i.tion.
I'll get it, presently.--There!”
She drew out a tiny sheet of paper, and handed it to Croyden.
”Does that help?” she asked.
Croyden glanced at it; then gave a cry of amazed surprise.
”It does!” he said. ”It does! It's the key to the mystery. Listen!”
The rest crowded around him while he read:
”Hampton, Maryland.
”5 Oct. 1738.
”Memorandum to accompany the letter of Robert Parmenter, dated 10 May 1738.
”Whereas, it is stipulated by the said Parmenter that the Jewels shall be used only in the Extremity of Need; and hence, as I have an abundance of this world's Goods, that Need will, likely, not come to me. And judging that Greenberry Point will change, in time--so that my son or his Descendants, if occasion arise, may be unable to locate the Treasure--I have lifted the Iron box, from the place where Parmenter buried it, and have reinterred it in the cellar of my House in Hampton, renewing the Injunction which Parmenter put upon it, that it shall be used only in the Extremity of Need. When this Need arise, it will be found in the south-east corner of the front cellar. At the depth of two feet, between two large stones, is the Iron box. It contains the jewels, the most marvelous I have ever seen.
”Marmaduke Duval.”
For a moment, they stood staring at one another too astonished to speak.
”My Lord!” Macloud finally e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. ”To think that it was here, all the time!”
Croyden caught up the lamp.
”Come on!” he said.
They trooped down to the cellar, Croyden leading the way. Moses was off for the evening, they had the house to themselves. As they pa.s.sed the foot of the stairs, Macloud picked up a mattock.
”Me for the digging!” he said. ”Which is the south-east corner, Davila?”
”There, under those boxes!” said she.
They were quickly tossed aside.