“But I confess that this is rather blind to me,” said Mr. Tibbs. “One page of the sheet is covered, but Colonel Conrad evidently intended to write more, for there is no signature.”
“Yes,” said Mr. Royalton, “and while he was reading what he had already written, he was killed, and the sheet torn from his hand.”
This view was accepted by all.
“The matter is not at all blind to me,” said Leonard. “I remember distinctly of a large clock, reaching from floor to ceiling, on the east side of the room; and I believe that a pressure on the figures indicating the hour of seven o’clock will result in opening the secret recess.”
“It may be true,” said Mr. Stark, “but it is certainly very singular.”
“Colonel Conrad was noted for his eccentricities,” said Mr. Royalton.
“Yes,” added Mr. Tibbs, “and he was a genius in mechanics. He was always cobbling up some curious contrivance. The least that we can do is to follow the instructions in this letter, and be governed by whatever results follow.”
The four gentlemen repaired to Elm Grove, and related to Florence Darley, as briefly as possible, their errand. Full explanations were not entered into, but were deferred to a subsequent period. Lawyer Tibbs simply told her of the letter and its contents, reserving until a more convenient time the tale of its long concealment and strange recovery.
A visit to the library, and a pressure on the dial of the clock at the place indicated at first, resulted in nothing. Perplexity and chagrin ensued. Suddenly Florence exclaimed:
“Let me make a suggestion, gentlemen. Suppose you wait until the hour of seven. Perhaps the time, as well as the place, is indicated by the words ‘seven o’clock.’”