The abandoned sheets of paper lying as they
did open upon the table, made it possible, as he sat, to read the
few words written on each. One ran thus:
'SIR,--As a woman who was once blest with a dear son of her own, I
implore you to accept a warning----'
Another:
'SIR,--If you will deign to receive warning from a stranger before
it is too late to alter your course, listen to----'
The third:
'SIR,--With this letter I enclose to you another which, unaided by
any explanation from me, tells a startling tale. I wish, however,
to add a few words to make your delusion yet more clear to you----
'
It was plain that, after these renounced beginnings, a fourth
letter had been written and despatched, which had been deemed a
proper one. Upon the table were two drops of sealing-wax, the
stick from which they were taken having been laid down overhanging
the edge of the table; the end of it drooped, showing that the wax
was placed there whilst warm. There was the chair in which the
writer had sat, the impression of the letter's address upon the
blotting-paper, and the poor widow who had caused these results
lying dead hard by. Knight had seen enough to lead him to the
conclusion that Mrs. Jethway, having matter of great importance to
communicate to some friend or acquaintance, had written him a very
careful letter, and gone herself to post it; that she had not
returned to the house from that time of leaving it till Lord
Luxellian and himself had brought her back dead.
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