Chapter 29: XXIX

XXIX I don’t know how long I sat there—only a few minutes in reality, I suppose. Yet it seemed as though an eternity had passed when I heard the door open and, turning my head, looked up to see Melchett entering the room. He stared at Hawes asleep in his chair, then turned to me. “What’s this, Clement? What does it all mean?” Of the two letters in my hand I selected one and passed it to him. He read it aloud in a low voice. “My Dear Clement—It is a peculiarly unpleasant thing t…