room.

"I have been careful to enter into all the particulars of this
unfortunate accident, because neither Mr. Mazey nor myself desire to
screen ourselves from blame, if blame we have deserved. We both acted
for the best, and we both beg and pray you will consider our responsible
situation, and come as soon as possible to St. Crux. Our honored master
is very hard to manage; and the doctor thinks, as we do, that your
presence is wanted in the house.

"I remain, sir, with Mr. Mazey's respects and my own, your humble
servant,

"SOPHIA DRAKE."

V.

_From George Bartram to Miss Garth._

"St. Crux, April 22d.

"DEAR MISS GARTH--Pray excuse my not thanking you sooner for your kind
and consoling letter. We are in sad trouble at St. Crux. Any little
irritation I might have felt at my poor uncle's unlucky interference
in Portland Place is all forgotten in the misfortune of his serious
illness. He is suffering from internal inflammation, produced by cold;
and symptoms have shown themselves which are dangerous at his age. A
physician from London is now in the house. You shall hear more in a few
days. Meantime, believe me, with sincere gratitude,

"Yours most truly,

"GEORGE BARTRAM."

VI.

_From Mr. Loscombe to Mrs. Noel Vanstone._

"Lincoln's Inn Fields, May 6th.

"DEAR MADAM--I have unexpectedly received some information which is
of the most vital importance to your interests. The news of Admiral
Bartram's death has reached me this morning. He expired at his own
house, on the fourth of the present month.

"This event at once disposes of the considerations which I had
previously endeavored to impress on you, in relation to your
discovery at St. Crux. The wisest course we can now follow is to open
communications at once with the executors of the deceased gentleman;
addressing them through the medium of the admiral's legal adviser, in
the first instance.

"I have dispatched a letter this day to the solicitor in question. It
simply warns him that we have lately become aware of the existence of a
private Document, controlling the deceased gentleman in his use of the
legacy devised to him by Mr. Noel Vanstone's will. My letter assumes
that the document will be easily found among the admiral's papers; and
it mentions that I am the solicitor appointed by Mrs. Noel Vanstone to
receive communications on her behalf. My object in taking this step is
to cause a search to be instituted for the Trust--in the very pro