In this way he tried more than thirty keys which had doubtless come from the old property of the Fouques, and which he found all over the place, against the walls, on the floors, and at the bottom of drawers.

He was becoming disheartened, when all at once he found the precious key.

It was simply tied by a string to the street door latch-key, which always remained in the lock.

It had hung there for nearly forty years.

Aunt Dide must every day have touched it with her hand, without ever making up her mind to throw it away, although it could now only carry her back sorrowfully into the past.