He only wondered that the action was delayed.

Why was it delayed?
Was he, Mr.Belcher, ready for it?
He knew he was not, and he saw but one way by which he could become so.

Over this he hesitated, hoping that some event would occur which would render his projected crime unnecessary.
Evening after evening, when every member of his family was in bed, he shut himself in his room, looked behind every article of furniture to make himself sure that he was alone, and then drew from its drawer the long unexecuted contract with Mr.Benedict, with the accompanying autograph letters, forwarded to him by Sam Yates.

Whole quires of paper he traced with the names of "Nicholas Johnson" and "James Ramsey." After he had mastered the peculiarities of their signs manual, he took up that of Mr.Benedict.Then he wrote the three names in the relations in which he wished them to appear on the document.

Then he not only burned all the paper he had used, in the grate, but pulverized its ashes.
Not being able to ascertain whether Benedict were alive or dead, it would be necessary to produce a document which would answer his purpose in either case.