“A letter, a sealed letter,” replied she, mystically waving her hand before her half-closed eyes.
The doctor gave a look of triumph at the bystanders, and went on:
“Has the letter come from a distant country, or from a correspondent near at hand?”
“Near!” said she, with a shudder.
“Where is the writer at this moment?” asked he.
“In the house,” said she, with another and more violent shuddering.
“I now take the letter in my hand,” said the doctor, “and what am I looking at?”
“A seal with two griffins supporting a spur.”
The doctor showed the letter on every side, with a proud and commanding gesture. “There is a name written in the corner of the letter, beneath the address. Do you know that name?”
A heavy, thick sob was the reply.