A
baffled expression came over the face of Morley; he paused for
an instant in his labours. The thought of how much he had
sacrificed for this, and only to fail, came upon him--upon
him, the votary of Moral Power in the midst of havoc which he
had organised and stimulated. He cursed Baptist Hatton in his
heart.
"The knaves have destroyed them," said Devilsdust. "I thought
how it would be. They never would run the chance of a son of
Labour being lord of all this."
Some of the cases were very deep, and they had hitherto in
general, in order to save time, proved their contents with an
iron rod. Now Morley with a desperate air mounting on some
steps that were in the room, commenced formally rifling the
cases and throwing their contents on the floor; it was soon
strewn with deeds and papers and boxes which he and Devilsdust
the moment they had glanced at them hurled away. At length
when all hope seemed to have vanished, clearing a case which
at first appeared only to contain papers, Morley struck
something at its back; he sprang forward with outstretched
arm, his body was half hid in the cabinet, and he pulled out
with triumphant exultation the box, painted blue and blazoned
with the arms of Valence.
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