Needless to s'y, these are no longer possible: Fate 'as declyred against us, and we bow the 'ead.

Well awyre as I am of the just suspicions with w'ich I am regarded, I do not venture to solicit the fyvour of an interview for myself, but in order to put an end to a situytion w'ich must be equally pyneful to all, I 'ave deputed my friend and partner, Mr J.L.Huish, to l'y before you my proposals, and w'ich by their moderytion, Will, I trust, be found to merit your attention.
Mr J.L.Huish is entirely unarmed, I swear to Gawd! and will 'old 'is 'ands over 'is 'ead from the moment he begins to approach you.

I am your fytheful servant, John Davis.
Huish read the letter with the innocent joy of amateurs, chuckled gustfully to himself, and reopened it more than once after it was folded, to repeat the pleasure; Davis meanwhile sitting inert and heavily frowning.
Of a sudden he rose; he seemed all abroad.

'No!' he cried.

'No! it can't be! It's too much; it's damnation.