This thought caused the blood to leap along my veins, my cheeks to burn, and my hands to tremble.

I renewed the examination, at first hurriedly; then with order and deliberation, taking out each drawer, and feeling carefully all around the cavity left by its removal, in the hope of touching some hidden spring.

But the search was fruitless.

One drawer perplexed me considerably.

I could not pull it clear out, nor get access above or below to see how closely the various partitions and compartments came up to its sides, top, and bottom.