"I went down to Jarlchester ostensibly on a walking tour, and received a second letter from Judith, telling me Melstane had left Ironfields, and was on his way down. On the day he was expected to arrive, I went for a walk, intending to return early. Unfortunately, however, I lost my way and did not get back until late at night. I found Melstane had arrived and gone to bed." "Did you ask if Mr. Melstane had arrived?" "No! I asked casually if a stranger had arrived, and they told me one had come from London, and described him, so of course I knew him at once." "But why all this mystery?" "Judith implored me to be careful," said Roger, quickly. "You see Florry's good name was at stake, and I wanted to get the packet of letters back with as little publicity as possible." "Nevertheless, you rather overdid the mystery business! Well, what did you do when you found Melstane had gone to bed?" "I went to bed also, and made up my mind to see him the next morning. Thinking of the letters, however, and knowing he was in the next room, I could not sleep, so as it was not then twelve o'clock, I thought I would go in and see him." "Curious thing to make a visit to a man's room at that time." "I dare say," replied Axton, tartly; "but you see, I was anxious to get the letters, and knowing that Melstane was a nervous man, particularly at night, I fancied I might get them back by playing on his fears." "A most original idea!" "Rather wild, perhaps, but not without merit. Well, I put on my things, took my candle, and went into his room." "Ho! ho! so it was you that left the door ajar!" "It was. I went into the room quietly, and saw he was sound asleep. On the table near the bed was a bundle of letters which he had evidently been reading." "How did you know it was the bundle you wanted?" "Because I recognised Miss Marson's writing on the top letter." "Well, seeing that was the bundle you were in search of, what did you do?" "Rather a mean thing--I stole them." "Stole them! Upon my word, Roger, you are a nice young man!" "In fighting with a man like Melstane, I had to make use of his own weapons," retorted Roger, coolly. "It seems dishonourable to you for me to go into a man's room and steal a bundle of letters; but I was dealing with a scoundrel; those letters contained the honour of a young and inexperienced girl whom he held at his mercy. If I had awakened him there would have been a row, he would have raised the alarm, and I would have got into trouble, so I did the best thing--the only thing to be done under the circumstances and stole the letters." "Did you see the pill-box when you were in the room?" "No, I was in such a hurry to go, having once secured what I wanted, that I did not stop to look at anything, but went back to my room." "Leaving the door of No. 37 ajar," said Fanks, reprovingly, "foolish man." "Ah! you see I was not experienced in midnight burglaries." "Well, after you got back to your own room, what did you do?"