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then I have done。 If you do by any chance succeed in laying your
hand on the clew； remember this_the discovery which follows
will be a terrible one。_ If you have any doubt about your
capacity to sustain a shock which will strike you to the soul；
for God's sake give up the idea of finding out your husband's
secret at once and forever！〃
〃I thank you for your warning； Major。 I must face the
consequences of making the discovery； whatever they may be。〃
〃You are positively resolved？〃
〃Positively。〃
〃Very well。 Take any time you please。 The house； and every person
in it； are at your disposal。 Ring the bell once if you want the
man…servant。 Ring twice if you wish the housemaid to wait on you。
From time to time I shall just look in myself to see how you are
going on。 I am responsible for your comfort and security； you
know； while you honor me by remaining under my roof。〃
He lifted my hand to his lips； and fixed a last attentive look on
me。
〃I hope I am not running too great a risk；〃 he saidmore to
himself than to me。 〃The women have led me into many a rash
action in my time。 Have _you_ led me； I wonder； into the rashest
action of all？〃
With those ominous last words he bowed gravely and left me alone
in the room。
CHAPTER X。
THE SEARCH。
THE fire burning in the grate was not a very large one； and the
outer air （as I had noticed on my way to the house） had something
of a wintry sharpness in it that day。
Still； my first feeling； when Major Fitz…David left me； was a
feeling of heat and oppression； with its natural result； a
difficulty in breathing freely。 The nervous agitation of the time
was； I suppose； answerable for these sensations。 I took off my
bonnet and mantle and gloves； and opened the window for a little
while。 Nothing was to be seen outside but a paved courtyard； with
a skylight in the middle； closed at the further end by the wall
of the Major's stables。 A few minutes at the window cooled and
refreshed me。 I shut it down again； and took my first step on the
way of discovery。 In other words； I began my first examination of
the four walls around me； and of all that they inclosed。
I was amazed at my own calmness。 My interview with Major
Fitz…David had； perhaps； exhausted my capacity for feeling any
strong emotion； for the time at least。 It was a relief to me to
be alone； it was a relief to me to begin the search。 Those were
my only sensations so far。
The shape of the room was oblong。 Of the two shorter walls； one
contained the door in grooves which I have already mentioned as
communicating with the front room； the other was almost entirely
occupied by the broad window which looked out on the courtyard。
Taking the doorway wall first； what was there； in the shape of
furniture； on either side of it？ There was a card…table on either
side。 Above each card…table stood a magnificent china bowl placed
on a gilt and carved bracket fixed to the wall。
I opened the card…tables。 The drawers beneath contained nothing
but cards； and the usual counters and markers。 With the exception
of one pack； the cards in both tables were still wrapped in their
paper covers exactly as they had come from the shop。 I examined
the loose pack； card by card。 No writing； no mark of any kind；
was visible on any one of them。 Assisted by a library ladder
which stood against the book…case； I looked next into the two
china bowls。 Both were perfectly empty。 Was there anything more
to examine on that side of the room？ In the two corners there
were two little chairs of inlaid wood； with red silk cushions。 I
turned them up and looked under the cushions； and still I made no
discoveries。 When I had put the chairs back in their places my
search on one side of the room was complete。 So far I had found
nothing。
I crossed to the opposite wall； the wall which contained the
window。
The window （occupying； as I have said； almost the entire length
and height of the wall） was divided into three compartments； and
was adorned at their extremity by handsome curtains of dark red
velvet。 The ample heavy folds of the velvet left just room at the
two corners of the wall for two little upright cabinets in buhl；
containing rows of drawers； and supporting two fine bronze
productions （reduced in size） of the Venus Milo and the Venus
Callipyge。 I had Major Fitz…David's permission to do just what I
pleased。 I opened the si x drawers in each cabinet； and examined
their contents without hesitation。
Beginning with the cabinet in the right…hand corner； my
investigations were soon completed。 All the six drawers were
alike occupied by a collection of fossils； which （judging by the
curious paper inscriptions fixed on some of them） were associated
with a past period of the Major's life when he had speculated；
not very successfully in mines。 After satisfying myself that the
drawers contained nothing but the fossils and their inscriptions；
I turned to the cabinet in the left…hand corner next。
Here a variety of objects was revealed to view； and the
examination accordingly occupied a much longer time。
The top drawer contained a complete collection of carpenter's
tools in miniature； relics probably of the far…distant time when
the Major was a boy； and when parents or friends had made him a
present of a set of toy tools。 The second drawer was filled with
toys of another sortpresents made to Major Fitz…David by his
fair friends。 Embroidered braces； smart smoking…caps； quaint
pincushions； gorgeous slippers； glittering purses； all bore
witness to the popularity of the friend of the women。 The
contents of the third drawer were of a less interesting sort： the
entire space was filled with old account…books； ranging over a
period of many years。 After looking into each book； and opening
and shaking it uselessly； in search of any loose papers which
might be hidden between the leaves； I came to the fourth drawer；
and found more relics of past pecuniary transactions in the shape
of receipted bills； neatly tied together； and each inscribed at
the back。 Among the bills I found nearly a dozen loose papers；
all equally unimportant。 The fifth drawer was in sad confusion。 I
took out first a loose bundle of ornamental cards； each
containing the list of dishes at past banquets given or attended
by the Major in London or Paris； next； a box full of delicately
tinted quill pens （evidently a lady's gift）； next； a quantity of
old invitation cards； next； some dog's…eared French plays and
books of the opera； next； a pocket…corkscrew； a bundle of
cigarettes； and a bunch of rusty keys； lastly； a passport； a set
of luggage labels； a broken silver snuff…box； two cigar…cases；
and a torn map of Rome。 〃Nothing anywhere to interest me；〃 I
thought； as I closed the fifth； and opened the sixth and last
drawer。
The sixth drawer was at once a surprise and a disappointment。 It
literally contained nothing but the fragments of a broken vase。
I was sitting； at the time； opposite to the cabinet； in a low
chair。 In the momentary irritation caused by my discovery of the
emptiness of the last drawer； I had just lifted my foot to push
it back into its place； when the door communicating with the hall
opened； and Major Fitz…David stood before me。
His eyes； after first meeting mine； traveled downward to my foot。
The instant he noticed the open drawer I saw a change in his
face。 It was only for a moment； but in that moment he looked at
me with a sudden suspicion and surpriselooked as if he had
caught me with my hand on the clew。
〃Pray don't let me disturb you；〃 said Major Fitz…David。 〃I have
only come here to ask you a question。〃
〃What is it； Major？〃
〃Have you met with any letters of mine in the course of your
investigations？〃
〃I have found none yet；〃 I answered。 〃If I do discover any
letters； I shall； of course； not take the liberty of examining
them。〃
〃I wanted to speak to you about that；〃 he rejoined。 〃It only
struck me a moment since； upstairs； that my letters might
embarrass you。 In your place I should feel some distrust of
anything which I was not at liberty to examine。 I think I can set
this matter right； however； with very little trouble to either of
us。 It is no violation of any promises or pledges on my part if I
simply tell you that my letters will not assist the discovery
which you are trying to make。 You can safely pass them over as
objects that are not worth examining from your point of view。 You
understand me； I am sure？〃
〃I am much obliged to you； MajorI quite understand。〃
〃Are you feeling any fatigue？〃
〃None whatever； thank you。〃
〃And you still hope to succeed？ You are not beginning to be
discouraged already？〃
〃I am not in the least discouraged。 With your kind leave； I mean
to persevere for some time yet。〃
I had not closed the drawer of the cabinet while we were talking；
and I glanced carelessly； as I answered him； at the fragments of
the broken vase。 By this time he had got his feelings under
perfect command。 He； too； glanced at the fragments of the vase
with an appearance of perfect indifference。 I remembered the look
of suspicion and surprise that had escaped him on entering the
room； and I thought his indifference a little overacte