Taking a sheet of thin blue paper and a magnum bonum pen he wrote: DEAR MISS TURNHAM, I WONDER IF I MIGHT ASK YOU TO DO ME A FAVOUR?
ON GETTING BACK TO BALLARAT, I FIND THAT THE RAIN HAS SPOILT MY STORE FLAG.

WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO MAKE ME A NEW ONE?
I HAVE NO LADY FRIENDS HERE TO APPLY TO FOR HELP, AND I AM SURE YOU ARE CLEVER WITH YOUR NEEDLE.

IF YOU CONSENT, I WILL SEND YOU THE OLD FLAG AS A PATTERN, AND STUFF FOR THE NEW ONE.

MY KIND REGARDS TO ALL AT THE HOTEL.
FAITHFULLY YOURS, RICHARD TOWNSHEND-MAHONY.
P.S.I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN OUR PLEASANT WALK TO THE CAVE.
He went out to the post with it himself.

In one hand he carried the letter, in the other the candle-end stuck in a bottle that was known as a "Ballarat-lantern" for it was a pitchdark night.
Trade was slack; in consequence he found the four days that had to pass before he could hope for an answer exceptionally long.