The question found her still in doubt as to what she should say in defense of her lover, but with the query came decision of purpose, and she readily replied:
"I think it is a forgery."
"A forgery?"
"Yes, so far as Hadley is concerned. I do not believe he has ever seen it."
"You surely do not believe I would be guilty of such baseness as your words imply."
"Oh! no, no; I do not for a moment doubt your good faith and perfect sincerity; but I think you are deceived. How did you get possession of this document?"
"Well, I must confess, not in the most upright manner, or rather, my knowledge of that portion of its contents which is intelligible, was obtained ignobly; but I cannot blame myself for the act, since it has placed such important facts at my disposal."
Here he related the circumstance of finding and reading the letter, and then added:
"You see the whole train of circumstances renders it impossible that Hadley should not be the one to whom the letter was addressed. I found it just in the place where he was in the habit of coming, a spot that no one else frequented, and so secluded as to forbid the idea of a casual passenger dropping it. Beside, where is there another person of the same name?"
"I frankly own there is a mystery connected with the subject which I cannot explain, but that mystery does not convince me of Hadley's guilt."