"Is there another letter in that desk torn as this is?"
Without a word Brierly took the letter and went back to the desk, catching the letters from their pigeon holes by the handful.
"I understand," he said, when he came back to them. "No, there is not a torn envelope there."
"Then," said the detective, "I think I may venture to give an opinion even before I look at this letter."
CHAPTER X. THIS HELPS ME.
The three men were now standing grouped about the table with its scattered books and manuscripts, and Ferrars bent toward Robert Brierly, putting a hand upon his shoulder.
"Brierly," he said, "sit down; this thing is using up your strength. I will tell you what I think of all this, and then we must lock up this place for a little while just as it is." And as Brierly obediently dropped into the chair which the doctor quickly placed beside him, the detective resumed.