At that hour of the afternoon, there were no duties which called the servants to the upper part of the house.

He listened--he hesitated--he went into the room.
It was possible that she might keep a journal: it was certain that she wrote and received letters.

If he could only find her desk unlocked and her drawers open, the inmost secrets of her life would be at his mercy.
He tried her desk; he tried the cupboard under the bookcase.

They were both locked.

The cabinet between the windows and the drawer of the table were left unguarded.