There was no choice left but for me to go.

I wrote to Mr.Vanstone, telling him that I should leave England at the end of February, and that the nature of the business which took me away afforded little hope of my getting back from the West Indies before June.

My letter was not written with any special motive.

I merely thought it right--seeing that my partners were not admitted to my knowledge of Mr.Vanstone's private affairs--to warn him of my absence, as a measure of formal precaution which it was right to take.

At the end of February I left England, without having heard from him.