I wanted to examine the abstract of title and be ready to close this sale if you and Sylvia approved of it." "Well, well," Mrs.Owen said, in one of those irrelevances that adorned her conversation.
Dan knew what was in her mind.

Since that night on Waupegan, blessed forever by Sylvia's tears, the letter found among Professor Kelton's papers had led him through long, intricate mazes of speculation.

It was the torn leaf from a book that was worthless without the context; a piece of valuable evidence, but inadmissible unless supported and illuminated by other testimony.
[Illustration: SYLVIA MUST KNOW JUST WHAT WE KNOW] Sylvia had been singularly silent, and Mrs.Owen's keen eyes saw that something was amiss.

She stopped talking, as much as to say, "Now, if you young folks have anything troubling you, now's your time to come out with it." An old clock on the stair landing boomed ten.

Mrs.Owen stirred restlessly.