He wetted the end of his finger, and drew from the interior of the vase a roll of stiffish white writing-paper.
‘That roll of paper,’ he said, ‘must have been dropped into the vase, whereupon it widened out till it filled the vase. The width of the paper happened to be exactly the height of the vase, and so the paper looked exactly like the internal surface of the vase. The resemblance would deceive almost anyone. I thought, as you did, that the vase was absolutely empty, but it was not.’
‘And the paper?’ asked Simon Lock.
‘The paper,’ said Mr. Oakley, holding the strangely hidden document in his hand, ‘is double, as you see. On the inside it is filled with small writing, very small writing, and the signature is that of Featherstone. I have read it, and I have brought it here as a surprise for you—I hope a pleasant surprise. Hence what you were pleased to call my devilish merry humour.’
‘Give it me,’ said Simon Lock briefly.
His voice trembled.
‘Here it is, sir.’
Simon Lock took the paper, and began to read with difficulty.
‘Turn another light on,’ he said, and Mr. Oakley obeyed.