He produced and spread out a couple of cablegrams on which he laid a hand while he talked.

"As I have already said, I have had several deals in business with Mr.James Allerdyke.

I last saw him towards the end of March, in town, and he then mentioned to me that he was just about setting out for Russia.

On April 20th I received this cable from him--sent, you see, from St.Petersburg.

Allow me to read it to you.