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"I suppose," he said, "that no man ever carries an unsealed letter of

introduction without opening it to read just what praises have been

lavished upon him It is human nature--I have done it often May I make

so bold as to inquire--"

"Yes," said I "It was unsealed and I did read it Considering its

purpose, it struckThere were many ords for

me--words beyond all reason in view of ht I also recall that hehe had been in

Interlaken, and that he said he expected to reach London about the first

of August"

"The first of August," repeated the colonel "That is to-morro--if

you'll be so kind--just what happened last night?"

Again I ran over the events of that tragic evening--the quarrel; the

heavy figure in the hall; the escape by way of the seldoo, "the threads of this

tragedy stretch far--some of them to India; some to a country I will not

nareater interest in the

matter than that of the captain's friend For the present that is in