The handwriting banished any last doubt he had; he tore the letter across, and again in four pieces, and yet again in smaller fragments.

Then he sprinkled the morsels of paper into the blaze of the fire.

I believe that every eye in the room followed them and watched till they curled and crinkled into black, wafery ashes.

Thus, at last the queen's letter was safe.
When he had thus set the seal on his task he turned round to us again.
He paid no heed to Rischenheim, who was crouching down by the body of Rupert; but he looked at Bernenstein and me, and then at the people behind us.

He waited a moment before he spoke; then his utterance was not only calm but also very slow, so that he seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
"Gentlemen," said he, "a full account of this matter will be rendered by myself in due time.