groom really was.

A fortnight after the paying off of the crew he was married to the
merchant-captain's daughter. The father of the girl was well known among
his fellow-townsmen as a selfish, grasping man, who was too anxious to
secure a rich son-in-law to object to any proposals for hastening the
marriage. He and his wife, and a few intimate relations had been present
at the ceremony; and after it had been performed the newly-married
couple left the town at once for a honeymoon trip to the Highland lakes.

Two days later, however, they unexpectedly returned, announcing a
complete change in their plans. The bridegroom (thinking, probably,
that he would be safer out of England than in it) had been pleasing
the bride's fancy by his descriptions of the climate and the scenery of
southern parts. The new Mrs. James Smith was all curiosity to see Spain
and Italy; and, having often proved herself an excellent sailor on
board her father's vessel, was anxious to go to the Mediterranean in the
easiest way by sea. Her affectionate husband, having now no other object
in life than to gratify her wishes, had given up the Highland excursion,
and had returned to have his yacht got ready for sea immediately. In
this explanation there was nothing to awaken the suspicions of the
lady's parents. The mother thought Mr. James Smith a model among
bridegrooms. The father lent his assistance to man the yacht at the
shortest notice with as smart a crew as could be picked up about the
town. Principally through his exertions, the vessel was got ready for
sea with extraordinary dispatch. The sails were bent, the provisions
were put on board, and Mr. James Smith sailed for the Mediterranean with
the unfortunate woman who believed herself to be his wife, before Mr.
Dark and myself set forth to look after him from Darrock Hall.

Such was the true account of my master's infamous conduct in Scotland
as it was related to me. On concluding, Mr. Dark hinted that he had
something still left to tell me, but declared that he was too sleepy to
talk any more that night. As soon as we were awake the next morning he
returned to the subject.

"I didn't finish all I had to say last night, did I?" he began.

"You unfortunately told me enough, and more than enough, to prove the
truth of the statement in the anonymous letter," I answered.

"Yes," says Mr. Dark, "but did I tell you who wrote the anonymous
letter?"

"You don't mean to say that you have found tha