The reversing of the thing's natural position produced some mysterious effect upon the musical box, and the tune which had been so rudely interrupted by Akulina's well-aimed blow, suddenly began again from the point at which it had stopped, continuing for a few bars and then coming to an end with a sharp twang and a little click.

The policemen tittered audibly, and even the captain smiled faintly in his big yellow beard.

Then he knit his brows as he deciphered something which was written on the pinewood under the base.
"You should have said so at once," he observed.

"Your name is there, as you assert." "It was written to show that I was to take it.

I had it in a basket with other things.