He pushed a chair into it, sat down, and opened first the packet that he knew had come from his uncle.

He broke the seal and read two pages of Mr.Touris in a mood of anger.

There were rumors--.
True it was that Ian had now his own fortune, had it at least until he lost it and his life together in some mad, unlawful business! But let him not look longer to be heir of Archibald Touris! Withdraw at once from ill company, political or other, and return to Scotland, or at least to England, or take the consequences! The letter bore date the first week of December.

It had been long in passing from hand to hand in a troubled, warring world.

Ian Rullock, fathoms deep in the present business, held in a web made by many lines of force, both thick and thin, refolded the paper and made to put it into his pocketbook, then bethinking himself, tore it instead into small pieces and, rising, dropped these into a brazier where burned a little charcoal.