Robert Woodhall took them, and looked at the first, which was a somewhat crumpled document, written on coarse paper, and seemingly a bill. He threw it down on the floor with a contemptuous look, which the servant immediately remarked and commented on.
"The next is more to the purpose, sir," he said.
"What! then you have examined them!" exclaimed his master, turning sharply upon him.
But Roger was not to be daunted easily; and he replied, with the utmost coolness, "Certainly, sir; I could not tell there might not be something immoral or irreligious in them, and I could not venture to bring you ribaldry."
His master laughed coarsely, and turned the paper, which was an open letter, till he could see the address. It was written in a very tolerable female hand, and was, in effect:
"To Master R. Woodhall.
"These from--"
Here the writer seemed to have been interrupted, for the writing broke short off.
Without ceremony, Robert Woodhall began to unfold the letter; but his servant observed, in a quiet tone, "I do not know, sir, whether it is for Mr. Ralph or you. That is a question. There is nothing in the letter to show--"
"What! then you have read it all, you infernal scoundrel!" exclaimed his master.
"Certainly, sir," replied the man, "every word."