But I think the rest of the afternoon was the most wretched time in my existence.

It was as plain as daylight that we were in for some grave trouble, trouble to which I believed that I alone held any kind of clue.

I had a pile of evidence--the visit of Henriques was the last bit--which pointed to some great secret approaching its disclosure.

I thought that that disclosure meant blood and ruin.

But I knew nothing definite.