"But for two , and one woman, it must heavy work the raising stone burly Sussex policeman and I had found it no light job What would to assist them ? Probably what done myself I rose and examined carefully the different billets of wood which were scattered round the floor Almost at once upon what I expected One piece, about three feet in length, had very marked indentation at one end, while several were flattened sides as compressed by some considerable weight Evidently, had dragged the stone up they had thrust the chunks of wood chink, until at last, opening was large enough to crawl through, hold it open by billet placed lengthways, which might become indented lower end, whole weight stone would press it down on edge other slab still on safe ground

"And now how was I to reconstruct this midnight drama ? Clearly, could fit hole, one was Brunton The girl waited above Brunton then unlocked the box, handed up the contents presumably--since they found--and then--and then what happened ?

"What smouldering fire of vengeance had suddenly sprung into flame passionate Celtic woman's soul when she saw the man who had wronged her--wronged her, perhaps, far more than we suspected--in her power ? chance wood had slipped, and stone had shut Brunton into what had become his sepulchre ? Had she only been guilty of silence as fate ? Or had some sudden blow from her hand dashed the support away and sent the slab crashing down into its place ? Be that as it might, I seemed that woman's figure still clutching at her treasure throve and flying wildly up the winding stair, with her ears ringing perhaps muffled screams from behind her and drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone choking her faithless lover's life out

"Here secret of her blanched face, her shaken nerves, her peals of hysterical laughter next morning But what box ? What had she done ? , it must the old metal and pebbles which my client had dragged mere She had thrown them in there first opportunity to remove the last trace of her crime

"For twenty minutes I had sat motionless, thinking the matter out Musgrave still stood with very pale face, swinging his lantern and peering down hole

"'These are coins of Charles the First,' said he, holding out the few which box; ' we were right in fixing our date Ritual '

"' find something else of Charles the First,' I cried, probable meaning first two question Ritual broke suddenly upon me 'Let me see the contents bag which you fished mere '

"We ascended study, and he laid the debris before me understand his regarding it as of small importance when I looked at it, metal was almost black stones lustreless and dull I rubbed on my sleeve, however, and it glowed afterwards like spark dark hollow hand The metal work was form of double ring, but it bent and twisted out original shape

"' bear in mind,' said I, ' royal party made head in England even death king, at last fled they probably left many most precious possession buried behind them, intention of returning in more peaceful times '

"'My ancestor, Sir Ralph Musgrave, as prominent Cavalier right-hand man of Charles the Second wanderings,' said my friend

"'Ah, indeed ! ' I answered 'Well now, that really should the last link that we wanted congratulate you on coming possession, though in rather tragic manner of relic of great intrinsic value, but of even greater importance as an historical curiosity '

"' it, then ? ' he gasped in astonishment

"' nothing ancient crown kings of England '

"'The crown ! '

"'Precisely Consider what the Ritual says: How does it run ? "Whose ? " "His gone " That was execution of Charles Then, "Who it ? " "He come " That was Charles the Second, whose advent was already foreseen There can, , be battered and shapeless diadem once encircled the brows royal Stuarts '

"'And how came it pond ? '

"'Ah, question take to answer ' And I sketched out to him the whole long chain of surmise and of proof which I had constructed The twilight had closed in moon was shining brightly sky before my narrative was finished

"'And how then that Charles get his crown when he returned ? ' asked Musgrave, pushing back the relic into its linen bag

"'Ah, there you lay your finger one point which probably never to clear up likely Musgrave who held the secret died interval, and by some oversight left this guide descendant without explaining the meaning of it day handed down from father to son, until at last it came within reach of man who tore its secret out of it and lost his life venture '

" 's the story Musgrave Ritual, Watson the crown down at Hurlstone--though they had some legal bother and considerable sum were allowed to retain it that mentioned my name happy to show it woman nothing was ever heard, probability she got away out of England and carried herself memory of her crime to some land beyond the seas "