"
"To me?"
"Yes. Do you remember telling me that my hand shook as I was
straightening the ornaments on the mantel-piece?"
"Yes, but I don't see----"
"No, but I saw. Do you know, my friend, I remembered that
earlier in the morning, when we had been there together, I had
straightened all the objects on the mantel-piece. And, if they
were already straightened, there would be no need to straighten
them again, unless, in the meantime, some one else had touched
them."
"Dear me," I murmured, "so that is the explanation of your
extraordinary behaviour. You rushed down to Styles, and found it
still there?"
"Yes, and it was a race for time."
"But I still can't understand why Inglethorp was such a fool as
to leave it there when he had plenty of opportunity to destroy
it."
"Ah, but he had no opportunity. I saw to that."
"You?"
"Yes. Do you remember reproving me for taking the household into
my confidence on the subject?"
"Yes."
"Well, my friend, I saw there was just one chance. I was not
sure then if Inglethorp was the criminal or not, but if he was I
reasoned that he would not have the paper on him, but would have
hidden it somewhere, and by enlisting the sympathy of the
household I could effectually prevent his destroying it.
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