"
"Look at it from his point of view. I have discovered that there
were only five short minutes in which he could have taken it--the
five minutes immediately before our own arrival on the scene, for
before that time Annie was brushing the stairs, and would have
seen anyone who passed going to the right wing. Figure to
yourself the scene! He enters the room, unlocking the door by
means of one of the other doorkeys--they were all much alike. He
hurries to the despatch-case--it is locked, and the keys are
nowhere to be seen. That is a terrible blow to him, for it means
that his presence in the room cannot be concealed as he had
hoped. But he sees clearly that everything must be risked for
the sake of that damning piece of evidence. Quickly, he forces
the lock with a penknife, and turns over the papers until he
finds what he is looking for.
"But now a fresh dilemma arises: he dare not keep that piece of
paper on him. He may be seen leaving the room--he may be
searched. If the paper is found on him, it is certain doom.
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