In the corner was the name of a firm he did not know, and the top of the letter was covered with a long row of stamps, for it was very thick and heavy.

So he went into his room, and sat down on the window-sill to see what Messrs.

Screw and Scratch of Pine Street, New York, could possibly want of Claudius, Phil.D.

of Heidelberg.
His curiosity soon gave way to very considerable surprise.

The first part of the letter contained the formal announcement of the sudden decease of Gustavus Lindstrand, of the firm of Barker and Lindstrand of New York.