Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/115

 somewhat might be found in it throwing light upon his past or present situation, but curiosity was not to be gratified by these means; what Clithero thought proper to conceal, it was criminal for us to extort from him.

The housekeeper was by no means convinced by these arguments, and at length obtained her brother's permission to try whether any of her own keys would unlock this chest. The keys were produced, but no lock nor key-hole was discoverable; the lid was fast, but by what means it was fastened, the most accurate inspection could not detect: hence she was compelled to lay aside her project. This chest had always stood in the chamber which I now occupied.

These incidents were now remembered, and I felt disposed to profit by this opportunity of examining this box. It stood in a corner, and was easily distinguished by its form: I lifted it, and found its weight by no means extraordinary.

Its structure was remarkable: it consisted of six sides, square, and of similar dimensions: these were joined, not by mortise and tenon, not by nails, not by hinges, but the junction was accurate: the means by which they were made to cohere were invisible. Appearances on every side were uniform; nor were there any marks by which the lid was distinguishable from its other surfaces.

During his residence with Inglefield, many specimens of mechanical ingenuity were given by his servant: this was the workmanship of his own hands. I looked at it for some time, till the desire insensibly arose of opening and examining its contents.

I had no more right to do this than the Ingleflelds: perhaps, indeed, this curiosity was more absurd, and the gratification was more culpable in me than in them; I was acquainted with the history of Clithero's past life, and with his present condition: respecting these, I had no new intelligence to gain, and no doubts to solve: what excuse could I make to the proprietor, should he ever reappear to claim his own; or to Inglefield, for breaking open a receptacle which all the maxims of society combine to render sacred?