On the cushion near the hand was a small scarab, exquisitely wrought of emerald.
"That is another of Father's mysteries.

When I asked him about it he said that it was perhaps the most valuable thing he had, except one.
When I asked him what that one was, he refused to tell me, and forbade me to ask him anything concerning it.

'I will tell you,' he said, 'all about it, too, in good time--if I live!'" "If I live!" the phrase again.

These three things grouped together, the Sarcophagus, the Coffer, and the Hand, seemed to make a trilogy of mystery indeed! At this time Miss Trelawny was sent for on some domestic matter.

I looked at the other curios in the room; but they did not seem to have anything like the same charm for me, now that she was away.