Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London.
Four years later Sholto dies.

WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present, which is repeated from year to year, and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman.

What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father?
And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death, unless it is that Sholto's heir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation?
Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts ?" "But what a strange compensation! And how strangely made! Why, too, should he write a letter now, rather than six years ago?
Again, the letter speaks of giving her justice.

What justice can she have?
It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive.

There is no other injustice in her case that you know of." "There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties," said Sherlock Holmes, pensively.