Nothing at all should be done at first; no step should be taken which might awaken suspicion; they should go on as if the papers were without value.

As for that, they had no real proof that there was any robbery.

Iris thought of telling him about the water-mark of the blank pages, but refrained.

Perhaps there was no robbery after all--who was to prove what had been inside the packet?
But if there had been papers, and it they were valueless except to the rightful owners, they would, perhaps, be sent back voluntarily; or after a time, say a year or two, they might be advertised for; not as if the owners were very anxious to get them, and not revealing the nature of the papers, but cautiously; and presently, if they had not been destroyed, the holders of the papers would answer the advertisement, and then a moderate reward might, after a while, be offered; and so on, giving excellent advice.

While he was speaking, Lala Roy entered the room in his noiseless manner, and took his accustomed chair.
"And what do you think, sir ?" said Joseph, when he had finished.