This letter was to Kate from Martin Newcombe.

It was a love-letter, a very earnest, ardent love-letter, but it did not make the young girl happy, for it told her very little about her father.

The heart of the lover was so tender that he would say nothing to his lady which might give her needless pain.

He had heard what Captain Marchand had told and he had not understood it, and could only half believe it.

Kate must know far more about all this painful business than he did, for her father's letter would tell her all he wished her to know.