Chapter 8.

June 19th

I'd only got as far as the top of the stairs, when the locking of Laura's door suggested

to me the precaution of also locking my own door, and keeping the keys safely about me

while I was out of the room.

My journal was already secured with other papers in the table drawer, but my writing materials

were left out.

This included a seal bearing the common device of two doves, drinking out of the same cup,

and some sheets of blotting paper, which at the impression on them of the closing lines

of my writing in these pages traced during the past night.

Distorted by the suspicion which had now become a part of myself, even such trifles as

these looked too dangerous to be trusted without a guard, even the locked table drawer seemed

to be not sufficiently protected in my absence, until the means of access to it had been carefully

secured as well.

I found no appearance of anyone having entered the room while I had been talking with Laura.

My writing materials, which I had given the servant instructions never to meddle with,

were scattered over the table much as usual.

The only circumstance in connection with them that at all struck me was this seal lay

tidally in the tray with the pencils and the wax.

It was not in my careless habits, I am sorry to say, to put it there.

Neither did I remember putting it there.

But as I could not call to mind, on the other hand, where else I had thrown it down, and,

...