o send you an account of a rather
serious accident which has happened to Everett. I am now
writing at 3 A.M., having just taken him home, and it
occurred at about midnight. You may be quite sure that
there is no danger or I should have advertised you by
telegram.

There is nothing doing in town, and therefore, as the
night was fine, we, very foolishly, agreed to walk round
St. James's Park late after dinner. It is a kind of thing
that nobody does;--but we did it. When we had nearly got
round I was in a hurry, whereas Everett was for strolling
slowly, and so I went on before him. But I was hardly two
hundred yards in front of him before he was attacked by
three persons, a man and two women. The man I presume
came upon him from behind, but he has not sufficiently
collected his thoughts to remember exactly what occurred.
I heard the scuffle and of course turned back,--and was
luckily in time to get up before he was seriously hurt.
I think the man would otherwise have strangled him. I am
sorry to say that he lost both his watch and purse.

He undoubtedly has been very much shaken, and altogether
"knocked out of time," as people say. Excuse the phrase,
because I think it will best explain what I want you to
understand. The man's hand at his throat must have stopped
his breathing for some seconds. He certainly has received
no permanent injury, but I should not wonder if he should
be unwell for some days. I tell you all exactly as it
occurred, as it strikes me that you may like to run up to
town for a day just to look at him. But you need not do so
on the score of any danger. Of course he will see a doctor
to-morrow. There did not seem to be any necessity for
calling one up to-night. We did give notice to the police
as we were coming home, but I fear the ruffians had ample
time for escape. He was too weak, and I was too fully
employed with him, to think of pursuing them at the time.

Of course he is at Manchester Square.

Most faithfully yours,

FERDINAND LOPEZ.

He did not say a word about Emily, but he knew that Emily would
see the letter and would perceive that he had been the means of
preserving her brother; and, in regard to the old barrister himself,
Lopez thought that the old man could not but feel grateful for
his conduct. He had in truth behaved very well to Everett. He had
received a heavy blow