In the next instant it occurred to him that this action would probably spoil whatever possibilities his night's adventure might have for him.

So he held his peace.

The old man was so intent in his perusal of the letter that the end of his hooked nose almost scraped the table.

He went over the dim, partly obliterated words line by line, chuckling now and then, and apparently utterly oblivious of the other's presence.

When he had come to the end he looked up, his eyes glittering with unbounded satisfaction, carefully folded the letter, and handed it to Captain Plum.
"That's the best introduction in the world, Captain Plum--the very best! Ho, ho!--it couldn't be better.