The suitcase did not open easily. Its leather was stiff, and the iron padlock looked as though it had not been touched in decades. Arthur tried two small keys from his drawer, though he knew they would not work. Then he tried an old screwdriver. The lock did not move.
Finally, he went to the cupboard and found a pair of bolt cutters he had bought years ago and never used. He felt foolish holding them over the suitcase, like a criminal in his own dining room. Still, he squeezed the handles. The lock snapped.
For a moment, Arthur smiled. Then he lifted the lid. The smell came first: dust, old leather, and something sweet beneath it. Inside were folded shirts, a cracked shaving mirror, a notebook, and the velvet-wrapped object. When Arthur touched the bundle, it gave a small vibration. Then the ticking began.