[He pulls his own out of a pocket, carefully folded, and scans them side-by-side -- his face tightens as he does so, until it's almost a grimace. After a long moment, he offers Mercedes back her letter.]

I had... I don't know. [He lets out his breath in a sigh, and his shoulders slump. Nevertheless, he looks directly at her a moment later.] 'In order to preserve this world and the one from whence you came', milady. How does that sound to you?