Being tired of foreign parts, and desirous of seeing the old country once again after thirty years' absence, I have decided to accept his invitation.

I don't know when we may actually be in Europe, but I promise you that as soon as we touch a suitable port I will write to you again, making an appointment for you to see me in London.

But remember that if your demands are too preposterous I will not for a moment listen to them, and that I am the last man in the world to submit to persistent and unwarrantable blackmail.
'I am, sir, 'Yours truly, 'Francis Smethurst.' "The second letter was dated from Southampton," continued the old man in the corner calmly, "and, curiously enough, was the only letter which Kershaw professed to have received from Smethurst of which he had kept the envelope, and which was dated.

It was quite brief," he added, referring once more to his piece of paper.
"'Dear Sir,--Referring to my letter of a few weeks ago, I wish to inform you that the _Tsarskoe Selo_ will touch at Tilbury on Tuesday next, the 10th.

I shall land there, and immediately go up to London by the first train I can get.