Her hopes rose, founded upon this oddly assorted pair.

Already in anticipation she was stirred by gratitude towards Wilding, and it was in impatient and almost wondering awe that she waited for him to proceed.
"I take it, sir," he said, without waiting for Albemarle to express any of the fresh astonishment his countenance manifested, "that the accusation against these gentlemen rests entirely upon the letter which you have been led to believe was addressed to Mr.Westmacott." The Duke scowled a moment before replying.

"Why," said he, "if it could be shown--irrefutably shown--that the letter was not addressed to either of them, that would no doubt establish the truth of what they say--that they possessed themselves of the letter in the interests of His Majesty." He turned to Luttrell and Phelips, and they nodded their concurrence with his view of the matter.

"But," he continued, "if you are proposing to prove any such thing, I think you will find it difficult." Mr.Wilding drew a crumpled paper from his pocket.

"When the courier whom they robbed, as they have correctly informed you," said he quietly, "suspected their design upon the contents of his wallet, he bethought him of removing the wrapper from the letter, so that in case the letter were seized by them it should prove nothing against any man in particular.