Still Jeffreys, with hope big within him, did not sit and fret.
Literary work might yet be had, and meanwhile bodily labour must be endured.
Towards the beginning of December, any one taking up one of the London penny papers might have observed, had he been given to the study of such matters, three advertisements.

Here they are in their proper order:-- "Should this meet the eye of John Jeffreys, late private secretary to a gentleman in Cumberland, he is earnestly requested to communicate with his friend and late employer." Readers of the agony column were getting tired of this advertisement.
It had appeared once a week for the last six months, and was getting stale by this time.
The next advertisement was more recent, but still a trifle dull:-- "Gerard Forrester.
"If Gerard Forrester (son of the late Captain Forrester, of the-- Hussars) who was last heard of at Bolsover School, in October, 18--, where he met with a serious accident, should see this, he is requested to communicate with Messrs.

Wilkins & Wilkins, Solicitors, Blank Street, W.C., from whom he will hear something to his advantage.

Any person able to give satisfactory information leading to the discovery of the said Gerard Forrester, or, in the event of his death, producing evidence of his decease, will be liberally rewarded." The third advertisement, in another column, appeared now for the first time:-- "A young man, well educated, and a careful student of Bibliography, is anxious for literary work.

Searches made and extracts copied .-- Apply, J., 28a, Storr Alley, W.C." It would have puzzled any ordinary observer to detect in these three appeals anything to connect them together.