o you know the writing?" he asked.

Andrew turned a thought more solemn, but his only answer was a wary
sidelong glance.

"Don't be afraid to say. A hundred people can swear to it. There's no
secret to be kept."

"It is my late father's hand," said Andrew gravely.

His guest burst into a shout of laughter, and then with an effort pulled
himself together again.

"Read it," he said, "and by the way, I may just as well tell you I've
plenty more like it, so there's no point in putting it in the fire."

Andrew took it with gingerly suspicion, which changed into a different
emotion as he read:

"DEAR HARRIS,--I write to let you know that I have reached this
city in safety and am slowly recovering from the mental anguish I
have undergone. As regards my wretched and ungrateful son Andrew, I
still disagree with you. No, Harris, I cannot bring myself to
expose the infamy of my eldest boy to a thunder-struck world; I
simply cannot do it. His immorality and dishonesty temporarily
unhinged my mind. I am exiled through his perfidy, but I forgive
him, Harris; I forgive him. Hoping to see you again someday,--

"Your unhappy friend,

"J. HERIOT WALKINGSHAW"

The address was an hotel in Monte Video, and the date about two years
before.

"What--what's all this rigmarole?" gasped Andrew. "It's sheer nonsense
from beginning to end."

His unwelcome guest was again shaken with boyish laughter.

"Prove it!" he cried. "Prove it's nonsense! Eh? How'll you manage that?"

Andrew's face grew darker and darker.

"Who does 'Harris' profess to be, I'd like to know?"

"Grandson of Mrs. Harris!" laughed Heriot.

"What Mrs. Harris?"

"Sarah Gamp's pal."

"You are drunk," said Andrew.

Heriot regarded him with portentous solemnity.

"Mr. Harris was the kind gentleman who befriended my grandfather on his
voyage to South America. He received afterwards many letters from your
papa, Andrew; and very, very thoughtfully handed them to me. They prove,
my boy, that you treated your parent outrageously. They prove that you
must have been a shocking bad hat yourself. Some of them prove that your
kind and forgiving parent is still alive at this moment; others prove
that he expired under heart-rending circumstances six months ago; and I
propose to use whichever alternative seems best--that's to say,
whichever will flatten you out most ef