"What do you mean?
How could--" As if to silence me he thrust the letter into my hand.

It ran as follows: "Dear Derrick,--For the last few days I have been down in the Flemings' place in Derbyshire, and fortune has favoured me, for the Merrifields are here too.

Now prepare yourself for a surprise.

Break the news to the governor, and send me your heartiest congratulations by return of post.
I am engaged to Freda Merrifield, and am the happiest fellow in the world.

They are awfully fastidious sort of people, and I do not believe Sir Richard would have consented to such a match had it not been for that lucky impulse which made me rescue Dick Fleming.