"That's quite right! Mr.Bulteel is my confidential clerk--and the packet was addressed to him.

But a note inside requested that Mr.Bulteel should bring all the documents at once to me, which he has done.

Everything is quite correct--quite in order.
But--I forgot! You do not know! Please sit down--and I will endeavour to explain." He drew up a chair for her near his desk so that she might lean her arm upon it, for she looked frightened.

As a matter of fact he was frightened himself.

Such a task as he had now to perform had never before been allotted to him.