._' "Now my father's Will had expressly enjoined, on pain of his dying curse, that this key should not be moved from its place until the Trenoweth who went to seek the treasure should have returned and crossed the threshold of Lantrig.

Consequently the ruby was not buried on Adam's Peak, or to return for the key would have been so much labour wasted.

Consequently, also, the Golden Buckle was valueless to anybody but him who knew the rest of my father's injunctions.

Although not yet in my hand, the Great Ruby was mine.
I was folding up the buckle with the parchment before rejoining the guides, when a curious thing happened.
"The sun had climbed high into heaven whilst I was absorbed in my search, and was now flooding the little lawn with light.

In my excitement I had heard and seen nothing, nor noted that the heat was growing unbearable beneath the vertical rays.