2. EIGHT O'CLOCK A.M.Seated in his private office he wetted the flap of the stolen
letter, and waited patiently till the adhesive gum could be
loosened. He took out Edward's note, the accounts, the rosebud, and
the photographs, regarding them with the keenest interest and
anxiety.
The note, the accounts, the rosebud, and his own photograph, he
restored to their places again. The other photograph he took
between his finger and thumb, and held it towards the bars of the
grate. There he held it for half-a-minute or more, meditating.
'It is a great risk to run, even for such an end,' he
muttered.
Suddenly, impregnated with a bright idea, he jumped up and left
the office for the front parlour. Taking up an album of portraits,
which lay on the table, he searched for three or four li
