Julian addressed himself to Lady Janet.
"You have often heard me speak," he began, "of my old friend and school-fellow, John Cressingham ?" "Yes.

The English consul at Mannheim ?" "The same.

When I returned from the country I found among my other letters a long letter from the consul.

I have brought it with me, and I propose to read certain passages from it, which tell a very strange story more plainly and more credibly than I can tell it in my own words." "Will it be very long ?" inquired Lady Janet, looking with some alarm at the closely written sheets of paper which her nephew spread open before him.
Horace followed with a question on his side.
"You are sure I am interested in it ?" he asked.

"The consul at Mannheim is a total stranger to me." "I answer for it," replied Julian, gravely, "neither my aunt's patience nor yours, Horace, will be thrown away if you will favor me by listening attentively to what I am about to read." With those words he began his first extract from the consul's letter.
* * * "'My memory is a bad one for dates.