Does this actually work?
In theory, yes. That is, any glue that's activated by moisture (like an envelope you lick to seal) can be loosened with steam in such a way that it doesn't destroy the glue, so you can open it, read the contents, and reseal the envelope afterwards.
But in practice, there are lots of problems with the technique:
-- Steam is dangerous stuff and can give you terrible scalding burns, so you can't just hold the envelope in the steam with your unprotected fingers.
-- The steam doesn't just melt the glue; it also warps the paper and makes the ink run. So it's pretty unlikely that the owner of the envelope won't know it was tampered with.
-- It doesn't work too well with undirected steam, like from an open pot of boiling water. You really need an old-fashioned kettle where the steam comes out in a thin concentrated stream.
-- It takes FOREVER.
Guide help
This is the low-spoiler guide for "Does this actually work?" puzzle in Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge. Unlike in normal walkthrough, you get gradual hints on how to solve the puzzle. Click the big button below to see your first hint. If the hint contains a spoiler, you will be warned about it before clicking.
Hints written by Lynn S. Hendricks
Lynn S. Hendricks
Among other things, I write hints for games like Nancy Drew. And I love words!