"Who can have opened it, then?" quickly cried Captain Davenal.
"Neal."
"Neal!"
"Neal--as I suspect."
"But I thought Neal was so faithful a man--so good a servant altogether!"
"An excellent servant, though I have never liked him. And latterly I have suspected the man's truth and honesty. I don't mean his honesty in regard to goods and chattels, but in regard to his own nature. If my letters have been opened, rely upon it, it is he who has done it."
"Have you spoken to him?"
"No. I shall speak now, though."
Dr. Davenal rang the bell, and Neal appeared. So calm, so quietly unconcerned!--not in the least like a man who has just tampered with his master's letters.
"Come forward, Neal. Shut the door for a minute. When I went out just now I left this note on the table--the one you brought in to me from Lady Oswald's servant I did not open it before I went out;--but it looks to me as if it had been opened since, and closed up again."