Mr. Hornblower rose abruptly. He was evidently much disturbed.
"You may be right," he agreed. "I will communicate with my client at once. I take it that she has your permission to see the cabinet; and, if it proves to be the right one, that she may open the drawer and remove the letters."
"If she cares to take the risk," I assented.
"Very well; I will call you as soon as I have seen her," he said. "In any event, I thank you for your courtesy," and he left the office.
He must have driven straight to her family residence on the Avenue; or perhaps she was awaiting him at his office; at any rate, he called me up inside the half hour.
"My client would like to see the cabinet at once," he said. "She is in a very nervous condition; especially since she learned that some one else has tried to open the drawer. When will it be convenient for you to go with us?"
"I can go at once," I said.
"Then we will drive around for you. We should be there in fifteen or twenty minutes."
"Very well," I said, "I'll be ready. I shall, of course, want to take a witness with me."
"That is quite proper," assented Mr. Hornblower. "We can have no objection to that. In twenty minutes, then."