view。 In Benjamin； the lawyer had found what he had not met with
in mea sympathetic mind； alive to the value of 〃an abstract of
the expenses；〃 and conscious of that most remunerative of human
virtues； the virtue of economy。
At so much a week； they had engaged men to dig into the mound and
to sift the ashes。 At so much a week； they had hired a tent to
shelter the open dust…heap from wind and weather。 At so much a
week； they had engaged the services of a young man （pers onally
known to Benjamin）； who was employed in a laboratory under a
professor of chemistry； and who had distinguished himself by his
skillful manipulation of paper in a recent case of forgery on a
well…known London firm。 Armed with these preparations； they had
begun the work； Benjamin and the young chemist living at
Gleninch； and taking it in turns to superintend the proceedings。
Three days of labor with the spade and the sieve produced no
results of the slightest importance。 However； the matter was in
the hands of two quietly determined men。 They declined to be
discouraged。 They went on。
On the fourth day the first morsels of paper were found。
Upon examination； they proved to be the fragments of a
tradesman's prospectus。 Nothing dismayed； Benjamin and the young
chemist still persevered。 At the end of the day's work more
pieces of paper were turned up。 These proved to be covered with
written characters。 Mr。 Playmore （arriving at Gleninch； as usual；
every evening on the conclusion of his labors in the law） was
consulted as to the handwriting。 After careful examination； he
declared that the mutilated portions of sentences submitted to
him had been written； beyond all doubt； by Eustace Macallan's
first wife！
This discovery aroused the enthusiasm of the searchers to fever
height。
Spades and sieves were from that moment forbidden utensils。
However unpleasant the task might be； hands alone were used in
the further examination of the mound。 The first and foremost
necessity was to place the morsels of paper （in flat cardboard
boxes prepared for the purpose） in their order as they were
found。 Night came； the laborers were dismissed； Benjamin and his
two colleagues worked on by lamplight。 The morsels of paper were
now turned up by dozens； instead of by ones and twos。 For a while
the search prospered in this way； and then the morsels appeared
no more。 Had they all been recovered？ or would renewed
hand…digging yield more yet？ The next light layers of rubbish
were carefully removedand the grand discovery of the day
followed。 There （upside down） was the gum…bottle which the
lodge…keeper's daughter had spoken of。 And； more precious still；
there； under it； were more fragments of written paper； all stuck
together in a little lump； by the last drippings from the
gum…bottle dropping upon them as they lay on the dust…heap！
The scene now shifted to the interior of the house。 When the
searchers next assembled they met at the great table in the
library at Gleninch。
Benjamin's experience with the 〃Puzzles〃 which he had put
together in the days of his boyhood proved to be of some use to
his companions。 The fragments accidentally stuck together would；
in all probability； be found to fit each other； and would
certainly （in any case） be the easiest fragments to reconstruct
as a center to start from。
The delicate business of separating these pieces of paper； and of
preserving them in the order in which they had adhered to each
other； was assigned to the practiced fingers of the chemist。 But
the difficulties of his task did not end here。 The writing was
（as usual in letters） traced on both sides of the paper； and it
could only be preserved for the purpose of reconstruction by
splitting each morsel into twoso as artificially to make a
blank side； on which could be spread the fine cement used for
reuniting the fragments in their original form。
To Mr。 Playmore and Benjamin the prospect of successfully putting
the letter together； under these disadvantages； seemed to be
almost hopeless。 Their skilled colleague soon satisfied them that
they were wrong。
He drew their attention to the thickness of the papernote…paper
of the strongest and best qualityon which the writing was
traced。 It was of more than twice the substance of the last paper
on which he had operated； when he was engaged in the forgery
ease； and it was； on that account； comparatively easy for him
（aided by the mechanical appliances which he had brought from
London） to split the morsels of the torn paper； within a given
space of time which might permit them to begin the reconstruction
of the letter that night。
With these explanations； he quietly devoted himself to his work。
While Benjamin and the lawyer were still poring over the
scattered morsels of the letter which had been first discovered；
and trying to piece them together again； the chemist had divided
the greater part of the fragments specially confided to him into
two halves each； and had correctly put together some five or six
sentences of the letter on the smooth sheet of cardboard prepared
for that purpose。
They looked eagerly at the reconstructed writing so far。
It was correctly done： the sense was perfect。 The first result
gained by examination was remarkable enough to reward them for
all their exertions。 The language used plainly identified the
person to whom the late Mrs。 Eustace had addressed her letter。
That person wasmy husband。
And the letter thus addressedif the plainest circumstantial
evidence could be trustedwas identical with the letter which
Miserrimus Dexter had suppressed until the Trial was over； and
had then destroyed by tearing it up。
These were the discoveries that had been made at the time when
Benjamin wrote to me。 He had been on the point of posting his
letter； when Mr。 Playmore had suggested that he should keep it by
him for a few days longer； on the chance of having more still to
tell me。
〃We are indebted to her for these results；〃 the lawyer had said。
〃But for her resolution； and her influence over Miserrimus
Dexter； we should never have discovered what the dust…heap was
hiding from uswe should never have seen so much as a glimmering
of the truth。 She has the first claim to the fullest information。
Let her have it。〃
The letter had been accordingly kept back for three days。 That
interval being at an end； it was hurriedly resumed and concluded
in terms which indescribably alarmed me。
〃The chemist is advancing rapidly with his part of the work〃
（Benjamin wrote）； 〃and I have succeeded in putting together a
separate portion of the torn writing which makes sense。
Comparison of what he has accomplished with what I have
accomplished has led to startling conclusions。 Unless Mr。
Playmore and I are entirely wrong （and God grant we may be so！）；
there is a serious necessity for your keeping the reconstruction
of the letter strictly secret from everybody about you。 The
disclosures suggested by what has come to light are so
heartrending and so dreadful that I cannot bring myself to write
about them until I am absolutely obliged to do so。 Please forgive
me for disturbing you with this news。 We are bound； sooner or
later； to consult with you in the matter； and we think it right
to prepare your mind for what may be to come。〃
To this there was added a postscript in Mr。 Playmore's
handwriting：
〃Pray observe strictly the caution which Mr。 Benjamin impresses
on you。 And bear this in mind； as a warning from _me：_ If we
succeed in reconstructing the entire letter； the last person
living who ought （in my opinion） to be allowed to see it isyour
husband。〃
CHAPTER XLVI。
THE CRISIS DEFERRED。
〃TAKE care； Valeria！〃 said Mrs。 Macallan。 〃I ask you no
questions； I only caution you for your own sake。 Eustace has
noticed what I have noticedEustace has seen a change in you。
Take care！〃
So my mother…in…law spoke to me later in the day； when we
happened to be alone。 I had done my best to conceal all traces of
the effect produced on me by the strange and terrible news from
Gleninch。 But who could read what I had read； who could feel what
I now felt； and still maintain an undisturbed serenity of look
and manner？ If I had been the vilest hypocrite living； I doubt
even then if my face could have kept my secret while my mind was
full of Benjamin's letter。
Having spoken her word of caution； Mrs。 Macallan made no further
advance to me。 I dare say she was right。 Still； it seemed hard to
be left； without a word of advice or of sympathy； to decide for
myself what it was my duty to my husband to do next。
To show him Benjamin's narrative； in his state of health； and in
the face of the warning addressed to me； was simply out of the
question。 At the same time； it was equally impossible； after I
had already betrayed myself； to keep him entirely in the dark。 I
thought over it anxiously in the night。 When the morning came； I
decided to appeal to my husband's confidence in me。
I went straight to the point in these terms：
〃Eustace； your mother said yesterday that you noticed a change in
me when I came back from my drive。 Is she right？〃
〃Quite right； Valeria；〃 he answeredspeaking in lower tones than
usual； and not looking at me。
〃We have no concealments from each other now；〃 I answered。 〃I
ought to tell you； and do tell you； that I found a letter from
England waiting at the banker's which has caused me some
agitation and alarm。 Will you leave it to me to choose my own
time for speaking more plainly？ And will you believe； love； that
I am really doing my duty toward you； as a good wife； in making
this request？〃
I paused。 He made no answer： I could see that he was secretly
struggling with himself。 Had I ventured too far？ Had I
overestimated the strength of my influence？ My heart beat fast；
my voice falteredbut I summoned courage enough to take his
hand； and to make a last appeal to him。 〃Eustace；〃 I said； 〃don't
you know me yet well enough to trust me？〃
He turned toward me for the first time。 I saw a last vanishing
trace of doubt in his eyes as they looked into mine。
〃You promise； sooner or later； to tell me the whole truth？〃 he
said
〃I promise with all my heart！〃
〃I trust you