2。EIGHTO\'CLOCKA。M。
Seatedinhisprivateofficehewettedtheflapofthestolenletter，andwaitedpatientlytilltheadhesivegumcouldbeloosened。HetookoutEdward\'snote，theaccounts，therosebud，andthephotographs，regardingthemwiththekeenestinterestandanxiety。
Thenote，theaccounts，therosebud，andhisownphotograph，herestoredtotheirplacesagain。Theotherphotographhetookbetweenhisfingerandthumb，andheldittowardsthebarsofthegrate。Therehehelditforhalf-a-minuteormore，meditating。
\'Itisagreatrisktorun，evenforsuchanend，\'hemuttered。
Suddenly，impregnatedwithabrightidea，hejumpedupandlefttheofficeforthefrontparlour。Takingupanalbumofportraits，whichlayonthetable，hesearchedforthreeorfourlikenessesoftheladywhohadsolatelydisplacedCytherea，whichwereinterspersedamongtherestofthecollection，andcarefullyregardedthem。Theyweretakenindifferentattitudesandstyles，andhecomparedeachsinglywiththatheheldinhishand。Oneofthem，theonemostresemblingthatabstractedfromtheletteringeneraltone，size，andattitude，heselectedfromtherest，andreturnedwithittohisoffice。