At the sight of that letter in Mrs. Conway's hands, a storm of emotion swept over Pearl, even before she remembered just what she had said. But as phrase after phrase flashed before her eyes and seemed actually to tingle down to the tips of her fingers, she sprang like an animal at its prey, and would have had it, too, if it had not been for Mr. Albertson, who catching her elbow as she went by, not only stopped her, but spun her completely round--so vigorous had been her motion. Frustrated in action, Pearl burst into speech. She said that she must and would have that letter back; she said that opening other people's letters was a state's prison offense; she went on like a maniac, and every word she uttered made Mr. Albertson feel more and more convinced that the letter must be read. Still, he was a chivalrous man; he believed in chivalry as some people believe in Christianity--as the important highway in their lives, from which at moments they are obliged to stray. "Now look, girlie," he said again, in accents even more honeyed, "don't excite yourself. Why would you mind me reading your letter, which I see is to another lady?" "It's none of your business why I mind," said Pearl. "I just do. Oh, Mr. Wood," she said, turning to Anthony, "don't let them read my letter!" "I won't," he said. "I'll read it myself." "Oh, no!" said Pearl with a little scream. There was a pause. Anthony already had the letter in his hands now. He looked very gravely at Pearl. "I'm sorry you mind," he said. "But this letter must be read either by my sister or me or Albertson. Which one would you rather have read it?" It was a hard choice. Pearl looked deliberately from one to another, and then she looked at Anthony. "You," she said. In complete silence he opened it and read it carefully through. Pearl stood motionless, watching him, studying his face. If he had laughed, if he had even smiled, she would have killed him. She was hardly aware of Albertson and Edna and Cora and Durland, all also watching him, to read in his face what he was reading on the paper. None of them read anything. His face was like a mask. He folded the letter and replaced it in the envelope. Then he took out his pocketbook and put the letter in it and put the pocketbook back in his pocket. Then he said, "I wish to have a word with Miss Exeter alone." There was a small room that opened off the room in which they were sitting; he walked toward it. "May we go in here, Cora?" he said. He made a motion with his hand, and Pearl, like a person bewitched, preceded him. "Don't be long, Tony," Edna called to him. "I may be some time," he answered, and shut the door behind him. Five minutes passed--ten. To those waiting it seemed an hour. Once Mr. Albertson walked near the door and bent his head. "Can you hear anything?" said Edna. "Not a thing," said Mr. Albertson. "You wouldn't be such a cad as to listen, would you?" said Durland.