"'A small one, sir, that used to smell quite nice.'
"'Ah, made of cedar wood, no doubt. Did M. Felix keep his papers in this desk?'
"'Some of his papers, sir.'
"'How do you know that?'
"'I've come into the room when he's rung for me, and saw the desk open.'
"'Ocular proof, Mrs. Middlemore.'
"'What sort's that, sir?'
"'Visible to the eye--your eye, my dear madam.'
"'Yes, sir,' said Mrs. Middlemore, dubiously.
"'Now, Mrs. Middlemore, can you inform me whether those papers you saw in the missing desk were private papers?'