Hitherto we had been in such outer darkness regarding Mr.Trelawny, and the strange visitation which had fallen on him, that anything which afforded a clue, even of the faintest and most shadowy kind, had at the outset the enlightening satisfaction of a certainty.

Here were two lights of our puzzle.

The first that Mr.
Trelawny associated with this particular curio a doubt of his own living.

The second that he had some purpose or expectation with regard to it, which he would not disclose, even to his daughter, till complete.

Again it was to be borne in mind that this sarcophagus differed internally from all the others.