Never had he been more painfully awake.
For an hour or more Alan persevered, then at last in despair he jumped out of bed wondering what he could do to occupy his mind.

Suddenly he remembered the diary of his uncle, the Rev.Mr.Austin, which he had inherited with the Yellow God and a few other possessions, but never examined.

They had been put away in a box in the library about fifteen years before, just at the time he entered the army, and there doubtless they remained.

Well, as he could not sleep, why should he not examine them now, and thus get through some of this weary night?
He lit a candle and went down to the library, an ancient and beautiful apartment with black oak panelling between the bookcases, set there in the time of Elizabeth.

In this panelling there were cupboards, and in one of the cupboards was the box he sought, made of teak wood.