The sails spread wide in the cool evening wind, and the mighty ship glided away into the dusk.

John Saltram's last look showed him his friend's face gazing down upon him over the bulwarks full of trust and affection.
He went back to London by the evening express, and reached his chambers at a late hour that night.

There had been some attempt at tidying the rooms in his absence; but his books and papers had been undisturbed.

Some letters were lying on the desk, amongst them one in a big scrawling hand that was very familiar to Mr.Saltram, the envelope stamped "Lidford." He tore this open eagerly.

It was from Sir David Forster.
"DEAR SALTRAM" (wrote the Baronet),--"What do you mean by this iniquitous conduct?
You only obtained my consent to your hurried departure the other day on condition you should come back in a week, yet there are no signs of you.