For want of something better to do I went over and picked up the pistols; the lock of one was broken, but the other seemed serviceable, and, after snapping the flint, I loaded the weapon, and slipped it into my pocket.

Somehow its possession yielded me a new measure of courage, although I had no reason to suppose I would be called upon to use the ancient relic.
There was little to examine, but I tramped about nervously, tapping the walls, and convincing myself of their solidity, and, finally, tired by this useless exercise, seated myself in the chair.

It was like being buried in a tomb, not a sound reaching my strained ears, but at last the spirit of depression vanished, and my mind began to grapple with the problems confronting me.

I felt no regret at having entrusted my papers to Mistress Mortimer.

There was no occasion for her attempting to trick me, and the contents of the packet were not sufficiently important to cause me any great worriment.