"My master put it away, sir."
"Oh! Do you happen to know where he put it?"
"No, sir. I was out of the room at the time."
Fanks sank back in his chair and nodded to Garth to continue the conversation; which the barrister did at once.
"How long had your master been in town before the murder?" he asked.
"About a month, sir. Before that we were at Mere Hall in----"
"I know where it is," said Garth, impatiently. "But about that letter which came by the five o'clock post on the day of the crime. Did you see it?"
"I saw the envelope when I brought it in, sir."
"Was the handwriting a man's or a woman's?"
"It was in female handwriting I am certain, sir."