So I went to the tablinum myself with Sebek." "But I had the key!" cried Orion putting his hand into the breast of his robe.
"That I had forgotten," replied his mother.

"But unfortunately we did not need it.

The tablinum was open." "I locked it yesterday; you saw me do it, Sebek..." "So I told the mistress," replied the steward.

"I perfectly recollect hearing the snap of the strong lock." Orion shrugged his shoulders, and his mother went on: "But the bronze doors must have been opened during the night with a false key, or by some other means; for part of the hanging had been pulled out of the wrapper, and when we looked closely we saw that the large emerald had been wrenched out of the setting." "Shameful!" exclaimed Orion.
"Disgraceful!" added the governor, vehemently starting up.

He had fallen a prey to fearful unrest and horror: he thought that his Lord and Saviour, to whom he had dedicated the precious jewel, regarded him as so sinful and worthless that He would not accept the gift at his hands.