— VIII —THE WHISTLER
Among the remaining contents, four things in particular arrested the inquirer’s attention – for this reason. They were among the somewhat heterogeneous collection of what looked like odds and ends which still awaited examination at the bottom of the box. Two were contained in coarse brown paper, tied with string and sealed. Taking one of them up, Mr. Smithers weighed it in his hand.
“What’s in here? Seems light enough. This isn’t jewels. What’s on the seal? Some sort of hieroglyphic. More mysteries; I’ve suddenly been precipitated into their atmosphere. I didn’t expect to find the contents of my safe quite so interesting.”
When, having cut the string to avoid breaking the seals, the packet was unfastened, for a moment or two he regarded what was within as the greate
