"I was busy with the dog," Lady Lydiard answered. "Isabel Miller was of
no use in the boudoir, and I told her to seal it for me."

Mr. Troy started. The new direction in which he was pushing his
inquiries began to look like the right direction already. "Miss Isabel
Miller," he proceeded, "has been a resident under your Ladyship's roof
for some little time, I believe?"

"For nearly two years, Mr. Troy."

"As your Ladyship's companion and reader?"

"As my adopted daughter," her Ladyship answered, with marked emphasis.

Wise Mr. Troy rightly interpreted the emphasis as a warning to him to
suspend the examination of her Ladyship, and to address to Mr. Moody the
far more serious questions which were now to come.

"Did anyone give you the letter before you left the house with it?" he
said to the steward. "Or did you take it yourself?"

"I took it myself, from the table here."

"Was it sealed?"

"Yes."

"Was anybody present when you took the letter from the table?"