He stretched out his hand for the ring.

The ring was gone! Gone, although no human creature had entered the room; gone, although no form had crossed the doorway.

Gone! He would not sleep there, that was certain.
He stuffed the papers into his pocket.

As he did so, three slow and distinct taps were given on the crown of his head.

Bonaparte's jaw fell: each separate joint lost its power: he could not move; he dared not rise; his tongue lay loose in his mouth.
"Take all, take all!" he gurgled in his throat.