He had usually a great many letters, for he was a public man and well known for his kind heart, so that everyone who was in trouble was glad to turn to him.

But that morning, as it chanced, there was only this one letter, so I took the more notice of it.

It was from Coombe Tracey, and it was addressed in a woman's hand." "Well ?" "Well, sir, I thought no more of the matter, and never would have done had it not been for my wife.

Only a few weeks ago she was cleaning out Sir Charles's study--it had never been touched since his death--and she found the ashes of a burned letter in the back of the grate.

The greater part of it was charred to pieces, but one little slip, the end of a page, hung together, and the writing could still be read, though it was gray on a black ground.