In vain! There was nothing! "These Christians! What cheats they are!" He snatched the third roll.

With trembling fingers he unrolled this, the last of the papyrus scrolls.

There must be something hidden! It could not be possible that he would be disappointed in the last scroll! Was there no treasure?
Not a thin wedge of gold at the heart of this papyrus?
Not a jewel, not anything that savored of riches?
Athribis' shaking fingers unrolled the papyrus to its very end.
Nothing but the continuous writing, and the stick on which the scroll had been rolled! His limp hand let fall the end of the papyrus.

It descended upon the heap at his feet.

Had he dared, he would have cried aloud in his disappointment.
But it was not his voice that pierced the night.