Read the excerpt from "Object Lesson, Part 2.""No sign of the original envelope?""No.""I found two boys with bills — in each case a single, too. David Strager and Joey Buell. No envelope."Louise's brows met.Ellery glanced up at the clock. 9:07.

The short exchange reveals that two boys each had a single bill, but there is no envelope to explain where the bills came from. Ellery then checks the time, adding a hint that the investigation is moving forward. These clues make the reader curious about what the boys’ bills mean and what will happen next, so choice C is correct.

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