No doubt it would be the easiest thing in the world to snatch it away without disturbing him.

But there was always to be considered that when he waked and missed the letter we should have to reckon with his measures to regain possession of it.
It became necessary, therefore, to go about it in a manner that should leave him unsuspicious of the theft.

A little while I pondered this, deeming the thing desperate at first.

Then an idea came to me on a sudden, and turning to Mariani I asked him could he find me a sheet of paper of about the size of that letter held by Ramiro.

He answered me that he could, and bade me wait there until he should return.
I waited, watching the sleeper below, my excitement waxing with every second of the delay.