It is, as you see, sealed with his seal and especially addressed to me in his own handwriting, and it is not violent to suppose that the contents concern me only.

Still, as you take so great an interest in the affairs of the deceased, it shall now be opened, and those contents, so far as you can have any right to know them, shall not be hid from you." I thought Sir Joseph looked grave when he saw the packet and had examined the handwriting of the envelope.

All, however, expressed their satisfaction that the search was now most probably ended.

I broke the seals and exposed the contents of the envelope.

Within it there were several smaller packets, each sealed with the seal of the deceased, and each addressed to me in his own handwriting like the external covering.
Each of these smaller packets, too, had a separate indorsement of its contents.