"Have you looked through them?" questioned Duncan eagerly. "Did you find anything important?"
"I have not had time to read them. I am leaving that work to you. It is your privilege; especially as the letters would not give me any clue. I am quite ignorant of what you wish to discover."
"That's true. Where are the letters?"
"In my study. I shall take you there in a few minutes. You may be a long while reading. So I have arranged everything for you to stay all night."
"That's kind of you, Mr. Coffran."
The old man looked at Bruce quizzically.
"Were you surprised at the appearance of this house?" he asked.
"Yes, I was," admitted Bruce. "I would have thought that it was unoccupied if you had not assured me that you would be at home."
* * *
Isaac Coffran smiled. "I am not at home except to a very few friends," he said. "I prefer to keep the house closed in this manner. I have retired from the world. This is a bad neighborhood, and it is necessary to keep the house well-barred. I can't think of leaving this old home. But it is safe here. No one can enter, and Pedro, my servant, is faithful and reliant."