He had made one postal delivery at seven that
morning and another at eleven.
"'How many letters did you leave here?' Lyle asked.
"'About six altogether,' the man answered.
"'Did you put them through the door into the letter-box?'
"The postman said, 'Yes, I always slip them into the box, and ring
and go away. The servants collect them from the inside.'
"'Have you noticed if any of the letters you leave here bear a
Russian postage-stamp?' Lyle asked.
"'The man answered, 'Oh, yes, sir, a great many.'
"'From the same person, would you say?'
"'The writing seems to be the same,' the man answered. 'They come
regularly about once a week--one of those I delivered this morning
had a Russian postmark.'
"'That will do,' said Lyle, eagerly. 'Thank you, thank you very
much.'
"He ran back into the hall, and, pulling out his penknife, began to
pick at the lock of the letter-box.
"'I have been supremely careless,' he said, in great excitement.
'Twice before when people I wanted had flown from a house I have been
able to follow them by putting a guard over their mailbox. These
letters, which arrive regularly every week from Russia in the same
handwriting, they can come but from one person.
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