Mr. Quest smiled again and rang the bell, but did not take the cigarette. When the breakfast things had been removed he took a chair, and placing it on the further side of the table in such a position that the light, which was to his back, struck full upon Edward Cossey’s face, began to deliberately untie and sort his bundle of papers. Presently he came to the one he wanted—a letter. It was not an original letter, but a copy. “Will you kindly read this, Mr. Cossey?” he said quietly, as he pushed the letter towards him across the table. Edward finished lighting his cigarette, then took the letter up and glanced at it carelessly. At sight of the first line his expression changed to one of absolute horror, his face blanched, the perspiration sprang out upon his forehead, and the cigarette dropped from his fingers to the carpet, where it lay smouldering. Nor was this wonderful, for the letter was a copy of one of Belle’s most passionate epistles to himself. He had never been able to restrain her from writing these compromising letters. Indeed, this one was the very same that some little time before Mr. Quest had abstracted from the pocket of Mr. Cossey’s lounging coat in the room in London. He read on for a little way and then put the letter down upon the table. There was no need for him to go further, it was all in the same strain. “You will observe, Mr. Cossey, that this is a copy,” said Mr. Quest, “but if you like you can inspect the original document.” He made no answer. “Now,” went on Mr. Quest, handing him a second paper, “here is the copy of another letter, of which the original is in your handwriting.” Edward looked at it. It was an intercepted letter of his own, dated about a year before, and its contents, though not of so passionate a nature as the other, were of a sufficiently incriminating character. He put it down upon the table by the side of the first and waited for Mr. Quest to go on. “I have other evidence,” said his visitor presently, “but you are probably sufficiently versed in such matters to know that these letters alone are almost enough for my purpose. That purpose is to commence a suit for divorce against my wife, in which you will, of course, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, be joined as co-respondent. Indeed, I have already drawn up a letter of instruction to my London agents directing them to take the preliminary steps,” and he pushed a third paper towards him. Edward Cossey turned his back to his tormentor and resting his head upon his hand tried to think. “Mr. Quest,” he said presently in a hoarse voice, “without admitting anything, there are reasons which would make it ruinous to me if such an action were commenced at present.”