was something in it certainly, but we none
of us could determine what, until Sam, who was the boldest of us all,
thrust in his hand and brought forth--something which caused the bravest
to start with horror, while poor Catherine sank down, white and
trembling, upon the littered floor. It was a bone, to which adhered
fragments of decaying silk.

The consternation and conjectures which followed can be better imagined
than described. Seeing the effects of the discovery upon Catherine, and
indeed upon all, I bade Sam replace it in the chest, which George closed
again, to be left until Mr. Fanshawe came home and could investigate the
matter.

The rest of the day I passed in attending to Catherine, who seemed much
shocked and overcome by what she had seen, and in trying to divert my
guests' thoughts from the subject, and dispel the gloom which had
gathered over all. In this I succeeded only partially, and never did I
welcome my husband's return more gladly than on that evening.

On his arrival I would not let him be disturbed by the relation of what
had happened until he had finished his dinner, and it was not till we
were gathered as usual round the fire that George related the whole
story to him.

When he ended the two gentlemen left the room together, in order that
Mr. Fanshawe might verify by his own eyes what he would hardly believe.

They were some time gone, and on their return I noticed that my husband
held in his hand an old piece of soiled parchment, with mouldy seals
affixed to it.

"We certainly have discovered much more than I thought for, Catherine,"
said he, "and possibly more than you thought for either." Here he paused
for her to reply, but she did not.

"The bones are most probably those of some animal," added he--I fancied
I could detect a certain anxiety in his tone that belied what he said;
"but in order to quell the active imaginations which I can see are
running away with some of you"--here he looked round with a smile--"I
will send for Dr. Driscoll to come and examine them to-morrow. I have
also found a piece of parchment in the chest," he added; "but I have not
yet looked at its contents."

"Before you do that, Mr. Fanshawe, and before you send for the surgeon,"
interrupted Catherine suddenly in a clear voice, "I think I can tell you
all about the bones found in the chest, and how I guessed them to be
there."

"I should certainly be very glad to be told," my husband admitted, much
surprise