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be； among us； and； leaving the holes unfilled； again set out for
the hut； at which； for the second time； we deposited our golden
burdens； just as the first faint streaks of the dawn gleamed from
over the treetops in the east。
We were now thoroughly broken down； but the intense excitement of
the time denied us repose。 After an unquiet slumber of some three
or four hours' duration； we arose； as if by preconcert； to make
examination of our treasure。
The chest had been full to the brim； and we spent the whole day；
and the greater part of the next night； in a scrutiny of its
contents。 There had been nothing like order or arrangement。
Everything had been heaped in promiscuously。 Having assorted all
with care； we found ourselves possessed of even vaster wealth than
we had at first supposed。 In coin there was rather more than four
hundred and fifty thousand dollarsestimating the value of the
pieces； as accurately as we could； by the tables of the period。
There was not a particle of silver。 All was gold of antique date
and of great varietyFrench； Spanish； and German money； with a few
English guineas； and some counters； of which we had never seen
specimens before。 There were several very large and heavy coins；
so worn that we could make nothing of their inscriptions。 There
was no American money。 The value of the jewels we found more
difficulty in estimating。 There were diamondssome of them
exceedingly large and finea hundred and ten in all； and not one
of them small； eighteen rubies of remarkable brilliancy；three
hundred and ten emeralds； all very beautiful； and twenty…one
sapphires； with an opal。 These stones had all been broken from
their settings and thrown loose in the chest。 The settings
themselves； which we picked out from among the other gold； appeared
to have been beaten up with hammers； as if to prevent
identification。 Besides all this； there was a vast quantity of
solid gold ornaments； nearly two hundred massive finger and ears
rings； rich chainsthirty of these； if I remember； eighty…three
very large and heavy crucifixes； five gold censers of great value；
a prodigious golden punch bowl； ornamented with richly chased vine
leaves and Bacchanalian figures； with two sword handles exquisitely
embossed； and many other smaller articles which I cannot recollect。
The weight of these valuables exceeded three hundred and fifty
pounds avoirdupois； and in this estimate I have not included one
hundred and ninety…seven superb gold watches； three of the number
being worth each five hundred dollars； if one。 Many of them were
very old； and as timekeepers valueless； the works having suffered；
more or less； from corrosionbut all were richly jeweled and in
cases of great worth。 We estimated the entire contents of the
chest； that night； at a million and a half of dollars； and upon the
subsequent disposal of the trinkets and jewels （a few being
retained for our own use）； it was found that we had greatly
undervalued the treasure。
When； at length； we had concluded our examination； and the intense
excitement of the time had； in some measure； subsided； Legrand； who
saw that I was dying with impatience for a solution of this most
extraordinary riddle； entered into a full detail of all the
circumstances connected with it。
〃You remember；〃 said he； 〃the night when I handed you the rough
sketch I had made of the scarabaeus。 You recollect； also； that I
became quite vexed at you for insisting that my drawing resembled a
death's head。 When you first made this assertion I thought you
were jesting； but afterwards I called to mind the peculiar spots on
the back of the insect； and admitted to myself that your remark had
some little foundation in fact。 Still； the sneer at my graphic
powers irritated mefor I am considered a good artistand；
therefore； when you handed me the scrap of parchment； I was about
to crumple it up and throw it angrily into the fire。〃
〃The scrap of paper； you mean；〃 said I。
〃No； it had much of the appearance of paper； and at first I
supposed it to be such； but when I came to draw upon it； I
discovered it at once to be a piece of very thin parchment。 It was
quite dirty； you remember。 Well； as I was in the very act of
crumpling it up； my glance fell upon the sketch at which you had
been looking； and you may imagine my astonishment when I perceived；
in fact； the figure of a death's head just where； it seemed to me；
I had made the drawing of the beetle。 For a moment I was too much
amazed to think with accuracy。 I knew that my design was very
different in detail from thisalthough there was a certain
similarity in general outline。 Presently I took a candle； and
seating myself at the other end of the room； proceeded to
scrutinize the parchment more closely。 Upon turning it over； I saw
my own sketch upon the reverse； just as I had made it。 My first
idea； now； was mere surprise at the really remarkable similarity of
outlineat the singular coincidence involved in the fact that；
unknown to me； there should have been a skull upon the other side
of the parchment； immediately beneath my figure of the scarabaeus；
and that this skull； not only in outline； but in size； should so
closely resemble my drawing。 I say the singularity of this
coincidence absolutely stupefied me for a time。 This is the usual
effect of such coincidences。 The mind struggles to establish a
connectiona sequence of cause and effectand； being unable to do
so； suffers a species of temporary paralysis。 But； when I
recovered from this stupor； there dawned upon me gradually a
conviction which startled me even far more than the coincidence。 I
began distinctly； positively； to remember that there had been NO
drawing upon the parchment； when I made my sketch of the
scarabaeus。 I became perfectly certain of this； for I recollected
turning up first one side and then the other； in search of the
cleanest spot。 Had the skull been then there； of course I could
not have failed to notice it。 Here was indeed a mystery which I
felt it impossible to explain； but； even at that early moment；
there seemed to glimmer； faintly； within the most remote and secret
chambers of my intellect； a glow…wormlike conception of that truth
which last night's adventure brought to so magnificent a
demonstration。 I arose at once； and putting the parchment securely
away； dismissed all further reflection until I should be alone。
〃When you had gone； and when Jupiter was fast asleep； I betook
myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair。 In the
first place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come
into my possession。 The spot where we discovered the scarabaeus
was on the coast of the mainland； about a mile eastward of the
island； and but a short distance above high…water mark。 Upon my
taking hold of it； it gave me a sharp bite； which caused me to let
it drop。 Jupiter； with his accustomed caution； before seizing the
insect；