He darkened the living-room, lighted his own, drew the rain screens, and piece by piece carefully examined the contents.

There were the pictures, but the name of the photographer had been removed.

There was not a word that would help in identification.

He emptied it to the bottom, and as he picked up the last piece his fingers struck in a peculiar way that did not give the impression of touching a solid surface.

He felt over it carefully, and when he examined with a candle he plainly could see where the cloth lining had been cut and lifted.
For a long time he knelt staring at it, then he deliberately inserted his knife blade and raised it.