"Yes."
"Could you recognize him?"
"I could. That is why I want to know if my uncle had enemies. The man who robbed that hiding place was scarcely a human being. He was an ape-faced monstrosity; a hideous creature who entered my window while I was half asleep. I thought that I was dreaming, until after the creature had gone."
"You have no clue whatever as to the identity of this — of this person?"
The old man's tone was almost plaintive. Duncan could recognize his concern. He felt that if he encouraged Isaac Coffran, he might stir the old man's memory.
"I have clues, now," Duncan said wisely. "I believe that I am on the trail of the thief. I have assembled facts that should enable me to find him. Remember that I have my uncle's secret. If I can gain some knowledge of his past activities, I can surely find the links that are now missing in the chain of circumstances. That is why I have appealed to you."
* * *
The old man seemed thoughtful. "Perhaps I can help you," he said slowly. "My memory is poor — very, very poor. But if this concerns your uncle's past, as it appears to do, you might be able to trace some clue if you had access to letters which your uncle had written. Am I right?"
"Exactly right."
"I have many letters from your uncle. I have forgotten the contents of most of them — probably of all of them. But I have kept them in a box at my house. Would you like to see them?"