His hand was on the key when T.X.noticed the look of surprise on his face.
"What is it!" asked the detective suddenly.
"This drawer feels very hot," said John,--he looked round as though to measure the distance between the safe and the fire.
T.X.laid his hand upon the front of the drawer.

It was indeed warm.
"Open it," said T.X., and Lexman turned the key and pulled the drawer open.
As he did so, the whole contents burst up in a quick blaze of flame.

It died down immediately and left only a little coil of smoke that flowed from the safe into the room.
"Don't touch anything inside," said T.X.

quickly.
He lifted the drawer carefully and placed it under the light.

In the bottom was no more than a few crumpled white ashes and a blister of paint where the flame had caught the side.
"I see," said T.X.