He soon grew wearied of the
familiar scene. The morbid fascination which seems to be exercised by all
horrible sights, drew him back again to the ghastly object on the floor.
Dream or reality, how had Agnes survived the sight of it?
As the question passed through his mind, he noticed for the first
time something lying on the floor near the head. Looking closer,
he perceived a thin little plate of gold, with three false teeth
attached to it, which had apparently dropped out (loosened by the shock)
when the manager let the head fall on the floor.
The importance of this discovery, and the necessity of not too
readily communicating it to others, instantly struck Henry.
Here surely was a chance--if any chance remained--of identifying
the shocking relic of humanity which lay before him, the dumb witness
of a crime! Acting on this idea, he took possession of the teeth,
purposing to use them as a last means of inquiry when other attempts
at investigation had been tried and had failed.
He went back again to the window: the solitude of the room began
to weigh on his spirits. As he looked out again at the view,
there was a soft knock at the door.
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