Yet he would do what he could to save himself, as she, in turn, must do what she could for herself--if they came to the end of their rope.
A minute later they were bending together over the contents of the dismantled safe.

He was striking matches.

By this time they were both on their knees.
"You run through these papers, while I see what can be done with the despatch box," he whispered to her.

Then he put the little package of vestas between them, so they might work by their own light.

From time to time the soft spurt of the lighting match broke the silence, as Frank hurriedly ran her eye over the different packets, and as hurriedly flung them back into the safe.
It was a relief to Durkin to think that he at least had someone beside him who could read French.