He carefully smoothed it over,
replaced the sod, and when all was finished to his satisfaction, went in
search of his faithful old Pierre, upon whose discretion and secrecy he
knew that he could rely. Together they carried the mysterious strong box
into the chateau, but not without great difficulty and frequent pauses
to rest, because of its immense weight. Pierre broke open the chest with
an axe, and the cover sprang back, disclosing to view a mass of gold
coins--all ancient, and many of them foreign. Upon examination, a
quantity of valuable jewelry, set with precious stones, was found
mingled with the gold, and, under all, a piece of parchment, with a huge
seal attached, bearing the three storks of the de Sigognacs, still in
a good state of preservation; but the writing was almost entirely
obliterated by dampness and mould. The signature, however, was still
visible, and letter by letter the baron spelled it out--"Raymond de
Sigognac." It was the name of one of his ancestors, who had gone to
serve his king and country in the war then raging, and never returned;
leaving the mystery of his death, or disappearance, unsolved. He had
only one child, an infant son, and when he left home--in those troublous
times--must have buried all his treasures for safety, and they had
remained undiscovered until this late day.
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