“It would be entirely inadmissible,” replied Mr. Penfield.
There was a short silence, during which Mr. Penfield refreshed himself with a pinch of snuff and Thorndyke rapidly turned over the situation. Obviously the old solicitor did not intend to give any information whatever—possibly for very good reasons. At any rate his decision had to be accepted, and this Thorndyke proceeded to acknowledge.
“Well, Mr. Penfield,” he said, “I mustn’t urge you to act against your professional conscience. I am sure you would help me if you could. By the way, I assume that there would be no objection to my inspecting the envelope in which that letter was contained?”
“The envelope!” exclaimed Penfield, considerably startled. “Why, what information could you possibly gather from the envelope?”
“That is impossible to say until I have seen it,” was the reply.
“However,” said Penfield, “I am afraid that the same objection applies, sorry as I am to refuse.”
“But,” persisted Thorndyke, “why should you refuse? The letter, as you say, was not addressed to you; but the envelope was. It is your own envelope and is entirely at your disposal.”
Mr. Penfield was cornered and he had the wisdom to recognize the fact. Reluctant as he was to let Thorndyke examine even the envelope in which those incriminating blanks were enclosed, he saw that a refusal might arouse suspicion; and suspicion was what he must avoid at all costs. Nevertheless, he made a last effort to temporize.
“Was there any point on which I could enlighten you—in respect of the envelope? Can I give you any information?” he asked.
“I am afraid not,” replied Thorndyke. “My experience has taught me always to examine the exteriors of letters closely. By doing so one often picks up unexpected crumbs of evidence; but, naturally, one cannot tell in advance what there may be to observe.”