“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
“He’s out. Therefore we must go to his room and see whether he has anything there—any letters, for instance. To me, it seems plain that he was in expectation of the tragedy, and that he fears lest the dead man should be identified.”
“Then your suggestion is to search his belongings?”
“Certainly. Let’s go up there. There’s no time to lose. He may be back at any moment.”
And so we crossed the great hall and quickly ascended to his room unseen by the servants. Then after looking rapidly through the drawers we found that one of Eric’s keys fitted the strong brown kitbag at the foot of the bed.
In a moment it was open, and a few seconds later its contents were out upon the floor.
Among them we saw something lying which caused us to stare blankly at each other in utter amazement. The sight of it staggered us completely.
Again the mystery was still further increased. It was inexplicable.
I recognised my own grave peril if I dared to carry out Tibbie’s bold and astounding suggestion.