I happened to buy both my revolvers and Minchin's from a hawker up the country; his were a present from me; and, as they say out there, one pair was the dead spit of the other.

This morning when I found I was being shadowed by these local heroes, it occurred to me for my own amusement to put one of my pair in a thoroughly conspicuous place, and this afternoon I could not resist sending you to the room to add it to your grand discoveries.

You see, I could have proved an alibi for the weapon, at all events, during my trip to town a year ago.

Yes, poor Minchin wrote to me, and I went up to town by the next train to take him by surprise.

How you got to know of his letter I can't conceive.