Yet such thoughts did not delay
my purpose, and I possessed myself of the locket easily enough, finding a
hasp in the chain, and so drawing it out from the linen folds. I had
expected as I moved the locket to hear the jewel rattle in the inside,
but there was no sound, and then I thought that the diamond might cleave
to the side with damp, or perhaps be wrapped in wool. Scarcely was the
locket well in my hand before I had it undone, finding a thumb-nick
whereby, after a little persuasion, the back, though rusted, could be
opened on a hinge. My breath came very fast, and I shook so that I had a
difficulty to keep my thumbnail in the nick, yet hardly was it opened
before exalted expectation gave place to deepest disappointment.
For there lay all the secret of the locket disclosed, and there was no
diamond, no, nor any other jewel, and nothing at all except a little
piece of folded paper. Then I felt like a man who has played away all his
property and stakes his last crown--heavy-hearted, yet hoping against
hope that luck may turn, and that with this piece be may win back all his
money. So it was with me; for I hoped that this paper might have written
on it directions for the finding of the jewel, and that I might yet rise
from the table a winner. It was but a frail hope, and quickly dashed; for
when I had smoothed the creases and spread out the piece of paper in the
candle-light, there was nothing to be seen except a few verses from the
Psalms of David.
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