The tutor stretched out his hand for the letter.

It was dated from on board the ship "Cyclops," off Havana, ten years ago, and, by the unsteady character of the handwriting, which rendered some words almost illegible, had evidently been written in a high sea.

Mr Armstrong could scarcely help smiling at the banker's naive suggestion as to the use of the document as evidence of handwriting.
The note was as follows:-- "Dear Mr Morris,--I write to you in strictest confidence.

My father probably has given me up for dead.

I hope so.