"I apologize," he said, ironically, to these letters.

"I ought to have banished her long ago, but, to tell you the truth, I didn't realize how much she'd influence everything--even in a box." He laughed cynically, and slowly opened the one letter which had meant so much to him.
There was no show of agitation.

His eye was calm; only his mouth showed any feeling or made any comment.

It was a little supercilious and scornful.

Sitting down by the table, he spread the letter out, and read it with great deliberation.