code: Properties readProperties( Instance instance ) throws PluginException {
  
  		Properties result = null;
  		File instanceDirectory = InstanceHelpers.findInstanceDirectoryOnAgent( instance );
  		File file = new File( instanceDirectory, FILE_NAME );
  
  		try {
  			if( file.exists()) {
  				result = Utils.readPropertiesFile( file );
  
  			} else {
  				this.logger.warning( file + " does not exist or is invalid. There is no instruction for the plugin." );
  				result = new Properties();
  			}
  
  		} catch( IOException e ) {
  			throw new PluginException( e );
  		}
  
  		return result;
  	}
docs: Reads the "instructions.properties" file.
  @param instance the instance
  @return a non-null properties object (potentially empty)
  @throws PluginException