resembling it； exist in the archives of the 〃Annual Register〃 or
in the pages of Voltaire？ The bare idea of such a thing seemed
absurd The mere attempt to make a serious examination in this
direction was surely a wanton waste of time。
And yet the Major had certainly stolen a look at the book…case。
And again； the broken vase had once stood on the book…case。 Did
these circumstances justify me in connecting the vase and the
book…case as twin landmarks on the way that led to discovery？ The
question was not an easy one to decide on the spur of the moment。
I looked up at the higher shelves。
Here the collection of books exhibited a greater variety。 The
volumes were smaller； and were not so carefully arranged as on
the lower shelves。 Some were bound in cloth； some were only
protected by paper covers； one or two had fallen； and lay flat on
the shelves。 Here and there I saw empty spaces from which books
had been removed and not replaced。 In short； there was no
discouraging uniformity in these higher regions of the book…case。
The untidy top shelves looked suggestive of some lucky accident
which might unexpectedly lead the way to success。 I decided； if I
did examine the book…case at all； to begin at the top。
Where was the library ladder？
I had left it against the partition wall which divided the back
room from the room in front。 Looking that way； I necessarily
looked also toward the door that ran in groovesthe imperfectly
closed door through which I heard Major Fitz…David question his
servant on the subject of my personal appearance when I first
entered the house。 No one had moved this door during the time of
my visit。 Everybody entering or leaving the room had used the
other door； which led into the hall。
At the moment when I looked round something stirred in the front
room。 The movement let the light in suddenly through the small
open space left by the partially closed door。 Had somebody been
watching me through the chink？ I stepped softly to the door； and
pushed it back until it was wide open。 There was the Major；
discovered in the front room！ I saw it in his facehe had been
watching me at the book…case！
His hat was in his hand。 He was evidently going out； and he
dexterously took advantage of that circumstance to give a
plausible reason for being so near the door。
〃I hope I didn't frighten you；〃 he said。
〃You startled me a little； Major。〃
〃I am so sorry； and so ashamed！ I was just going to open the
door； and tell you that I am obliged to go out。 I have received a
pressing message from a lady。 A charming personI should so like
you to know her。 She is in sad trouble； poor thing。 Little bills；
you know； and nasty tradespeople who want their money； and a
husbandoh； dear me； a husband who is quite unworthy of her！ A
most interesting creature。 You remind me of her a little； you
both have the same carriage of the head。 I shall not be more than
half an hour gone。 Can I do anything for you？ You are looking
fatigued。 Pray let me send for some more champagne。 No？ Promise
to ring when you want it。 That's right！ _Au revoir_； my charming
friend_au revoir！_〃
I pulled the door to again the moment his back was turned； and
sat down for a while to compose myself。
He had been watching me at the book…case！ The man who was in my
husband's confidence； the man who knew where the clew was to be
found； had been watching me at the book…case！ There was no doubt
of it now。 Major Fitz…David had shown me the hiding…place of the
secret in spite of himself！
I looked with indifference at the other pieces of furniture；
ranged against the fourth wall； which I had not examined yet。 I
surveyed； without the slightest feeling of curiosity； all the
little elegant trifles scattered on the tables and on the
chimney…piece； each one of which might have been an object of
suspicion to me under other circumstances。 Even the water…color
drawings failed to interest me in my present frame of mind。 I
observed languidly that they were most of them portraits of
ladiesfair idols； no doubt； of the Major's facile
adorationand I cared to notice no more。 _My_ business in that
room （I was certain of it now！） began and ended with the
book…case。 I left my seat to fetch the library ladder；
determining to begin the work of investigation on the top
shelves。
On my way to the ladder I passed one of the tables； and saw the
keys lying on it which Major Fitz…David had left at my disposal。
The smaller of the two keys instantly reminded me of the
cupboards under the bookcase。 I had strangely overlooked these。 A
vague distrust of the locked doors a vague doubt of what they
might be hiding from me； stole into my mind。 I left the ladder in
its place against the wall； and set myself to examine the
contents of the cupboards first。
The cupboards were three in number。 As I opened the first of them
the singing upstairs ceased。 For a moment there was something
almost oppressive in the sudden change from noise to silence。 I
suppose my nerves must have been overwrought。 The next sound in
the housenothing more remarkable than the creaking of a man's
boots descending the stairsmade me shudder all over。 The man
was no doubt the singing…master； going away after giving his
lesson。 I heard the house door close on him； and started at the
familiar sound as if it were something terrible which I had never
heard before。 Then there was silence again。 I roused myself as
well as I could； and began my examination of the first cupboard。
It was divided into two compartments。
The top compartment contained nothing but boxes of cigars； ranged
in rows； one on another。 The under compartment was devoted to a
collection of shells。 They were all huddled together anyhow； the
Major evidently setting a far higher value on his cigars than on
his shells。 I searched this lower compartment carefully for any
object interesting to me which might be hidden in it。 Nothing was
to be found in any part of it besides the shells。
As I opened the second cupboard it struck me that the light was
beginning to fail。
I looked at the window： it was hardly evening yet。 The darkening
of the light was produced by gathering clouds。 Rain…drops
pattered against the glass； the autumn wind whistled mournfully
in the corners of the courtyard。 I mended the fire before I
renewed my search。 My nerves were in fault again； I suppose。 I
shivered when I went back to the book…case。 My hands trembled： I
wondered what was the matter with me。
The second cupboard revealed （in the upper division of it） some
really beautiful cameosnot mounted； but laid on cotton…wool in
neat cardboard trays。 In one corner； half hidden under one of the
trays； there peeped out the whit e leaves of a little manuscript。
I pounced on it eagerly； only to meet with a new disappointment：
the manuscript proved to be a descriptive catalogue of the
cameosnothing more！
Turning to the lower division of the cupboard； I found more
costly curiosities in the shape of ivory carvings from Japan and
specimens of rare silk from China。 I began to feel weary of
disinterring the Major's treasures。 The longer I searched； the
farther I seemed to remove myself from the one object that I had
it at heart to attain。 After closing the door of the second
cupboard； I almost doubted whether it would be worth my while to
proceed farther and open the third and last door。
A little reflection convinced me that it would be as well； now
that I had begun my examination of the lower regions of the
book…case； to go on with it to the end。 I opened the last
cupboard。
On the upper shelf there appeared； in solitary grandeur； one
object onlya gorgeously bound book。
It was of a larger size than usual； judging of it by comparison
with the dimensions of modern volumes。 The binding was of blue
velvet； with clasps of silver worked in beautiful arabesque
patterns； and with a lock of the same precious metal to protect
the book from prying eyes。 When I took it up； I found that the
lock was not closed。
Had I any right to take advantage of this accident； and open the
book？ I have put the question since to some of my friends of both
sexes。 The women all agree that I was perfectly justified；
considering the serious interests that I had at stake； in taking
any advantage of any book in the Major's house。 The men differ
from this view； and declare that I ought to have put back the
volume in blue velvet unopened； carefully guarding myself from
any after…temptation to look at it again by locking the cupboard
door。 I dare say the men are right。
Being a woman； however； I opened the book without a moment's
hesitation。
The leaves were of the finest vellum； with tastefully designed
illuminations all round them。 And what did these highly
ornamental pages contain？ To my unutterable amazement and
disgust； they contained locks of hair； let neatly into the center
of each page； with inscriptions beneath； which proved them to be
love…tokens from various ladies who had touched the Major's
susceptible heart at different periods of his life。 The
inscriptions were written in other languages besides English； but
they appeared to be all equally devoted to the same curious
purpose； namely； to reminding the Major of the dates at which his
various attachments had come to an untimely end。 Thus the first
page exhibited a lock of the lightest flaxen hair； with these
lines beneath： 〃My adored Madeline。 Eternal constancy。 Alas； July
22； 1839！〃 The next page was adorned by a darker shade of hair；
with a French inscription under it： 〃Clemence。 Idole de mon 鈓e。
Toujours fidele。 Helas； 2me Avril； 1840。〃 A lock of red hair
followed； with a lamentation in Latin under it； a note being
attached to the date of dissolution of partnership in this case；
stating that the lady was descended from the ancient Romans； and
was therefore mourned appropriately in Latin by her devoted
Fitz…David。 More shades of hair and more inscriptions followed；
until I was weary of looking at them。 I put down the book；
disgusted with the creatures who had assisted in filling it； and
then took it up again； by an afterthought。 Thus far I had
thoroughly searched everything that had presented itself to my
notice。 Agreeab