Sit down, Mr. Starr, and have a good dinner, for we may not
sup till late."
As the engineer and his hosts were taking their places:
"One moment, Simon," said James Starr. "Do you want me to eat
with a good appetite?"
"It will be doing us all possible honor, Mr. Starr," answered Ford.
"Well, in order to eat heartily, I must not be at all anxious.
Now I have two questions to put to you."
"Go on, sir."
"Your letter told me of a communication which was to be of
an interesting nature."
"It is very interesting indeed."
"To you?"
"To you and to me, Mr. Starr. But I do not want to tell
it you until after dinner, and on the very spot itself.
Without that you would not believe me."
"Simon," resumed the engineer, "look me straight in the face.
An interesting communication? Yes. Good! I will not ask more,"
he added, as if he had read the reply in the old overman's eyes.
"And the second question?" asked the latter.
"Do you know, Simon, who the person is who can have written this?"
answered the engineer, handing him the anonymous letter.
Ford took the letter and read it attentively. Then giving it to his son,
"Do you know the writing?" he asked.
"No, father," replied Harry.
"And had this letter the Aberfoyle postmark?" inquired Simon Ford.
"Yes, like yours," replied James Starr.
"What do you think of that, Harry?" said his father, his brow darkening.
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