all
his arm.

"There is nothing here," he said; "let us look about the outside."

That was the work of a minute, for on every hand there was the blank
stone--wall, floor and roof, and the exterior of the iron safe or tomb
was perfectly rectangular and smooth.

"What was the size of the cases?"

"One was about twelve inches by eight, and three or four deep, and the
other rather smaller," replied the old lawyer; "both too large for me to
have juggled them into my pockets when I opened the steel chest, Mr
Artis."

"You held the keys, and if you meant to take the treasure, you had it
before."

"Enough of this," cried Capel. "It is plain that the bequest has been
taken away. Mr Girtle, we will finish at once--fulfil my uncle's
commands. Come."

He went to the head of the oaken coffin, and took one handle, when,
influenced by his example, the others helped to raise it a little from
the floor, and it was thrust in and onward, till it rested upon the
bottom of the steel chest, nearly filling the space.

Capel stood on the right of the entrance, and for fully five minutes
there was perfect silence in the solemn chamber.

"Go on, Mr Girtle," Capel said, at last, and the old man bent down,
thrust the key in the end, gave a half turn, and the two ponderous sides
slowly curved over till they were nearly together leaving only a few
inches of the shining brass breastplate visible. Then there was a faint
click, and the left side fell heavily, setting free the right, which
descended with a loud clang, and closed tightly over a rebate in the
lower side, so closely, that it was only by holding a candle near that
the junction could be seen.

"Go on;" and the old lawyer again inserted a key.

There was no show of effort on his part, as the old lawyer turned the
key, when the end of the iron chamber closed in tightly, and after once
more examining the blank stone chamber, they slowly ascended the steps.
Then the iron door was closed and locked, and Mr Girtle handed Capel
the keys.

An hour later, a couple of masons were at work with the stones that were
below in the locked-up cellar, and the next day they had filled in a
wall of six feet thick, cemented over the face, so that only a dark
patch showed where the entrance to the colonel's tomb had been.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE YOUNG DOCTOR.

"Look here," said Artis; "you mustn't be offended with me. I speak very
plainly, and if I can be of any use to you, I will."