When he was able to rejoin her, she was examining a curious little coffer which stood upon an ivory table.
"Show me the mystery of this lock," she begged.

"I have been trying to open it ever since you went away.

One could imagine that the secrets of a nation might be hidden here." He smiled, and taking the box from her hands, touched a little spring.
Almost at once the lid flew open.
"I am afraid," he said, "that it is empty." She peered in.
"No," she exclaimed, "there is something there! See!" She thrust in her hand and drew out a small, curiously shaped dagger of fine blue steel and a roll of silken cord.

She held them up to him.
"What are these ?" she asked.

"Are they symbols--the cord and the knife of destiny ?" He took them gently from her hand and replaced them in the box.