Of all the machinery no single piece remained intact, and even the glass table was shattered into three pieces.

Strenuously earnest must have been the work which Raffles Haw had done that day.
And suddenly Robert thought of the secret which had been treasured in the casket within the iron-clamped box.

It was to tell him the one last essential link which would make his knowledge of the process complete.
Was it still there?
Thrilling all over, he opened the great chest, and drew out the ivory box.

It was locked, but the key was in it.

He turned it and threw open the lid.