My musings were quickly interrupted by the sight of a small cabinet, the hinges of which were broken and the lid half raised.

In the present state of my thoughts, I was prone to suspect the worst.

Here were traces of pillage.

Some casual or mercenary attendant had not only contributed to hasten the death of the patient, but had rifled his property and fled.
This suspicion would, perhaps, have yielded to mature reflections, if I had been suffered to reflect.

A moment scarcely elapsed, when some appearance in the mirror, which hung over the table, called my attention.