One glance had shown him that the safe was empty.
The tragic collapse of all their hopes was almost more than they could bear.

Coming on top of the nerve-racking events of the night, it left them dazed and directionless.

It was, of course, Miss Cornelia who recovered first.
"Even without the money," she said; "the mere presence of this safe here, hidden away, tells the story.

The fact that someone else knew and got here first cannot alter that." But she could not cheer them.

It was Lizzie who created a diversion.
Lizzie who had bolted into the hall at the first motion of the mantelpiece outward and who now, with equal precipitation, came bolting back.