'These letters take away my strength: crying is quite useless, I know that,' said she, glancing at a pile of letters that she had partly replied to. 'Some are from people who can hardly write. There were people who distrusted him! Some are from people who abused him and maltreated him. See those poor creatures out in the rain!' Lord Romfrey looked through the venetian blinds of the parlour window. 'It's as good as a play to them,' he remarked. Cecilia lit a candle and applied a stick of black wax to the flame, saying: 'Envelopes have fallen short. These letters will frighten the receivers. I cannot help it.' 'I will bring letter paper and envelopes in the afternoon,' said Lord Romfrey. 'Don't use black wax, my dear.' 'I can find no other: I do not like to trouble Miss Denham. Letter paper has to be sealed. These letters must go by the afternoon post: I do not like to rob the poor anxious people of a little hope while he lives. Let me have note paper and envelopes quickly: not black-edged.' 'Plain; that's right,' said Lord Romfrey. Black appeared to him like the torch of death flying over the country. 'There may be hope,' he added. She sighed: 'Oh! yes.' 'Gannet will do everything that man can do to save him.' 'He will, I am sure.' 'You don't keep watch in the room, my dear, do you?' 'Miss Denham allows me an hour there in the day: it is the only rest she takes. She gives me her bedroom.' 'Ha: well: women!' ejaculated the earl, and paused. 'That sounded like him!' 'At times,' murmured Cecilia. 'All yesterday! all through the night! and to-day!' 'He'll be missed.' Any sudden light of happier expectation that might have animated him was extinguished by the flight of chatter following the cry which had sounded like Beauchamp. He went out into the rain, thinking that Beauchamp would be missed. The fellow had bothered the world, but the world without him would be heavy matter. The hour was mid-day, workmen's meal-time. A congregation of shipyard workmen and a multitude of children crowded near the door. In passing through them, Lord Romfrey was besought for the doctor's report of Commander Beauchamp, variously named Beesham, Bosham, Bitcham, Bewsham. The earl heard his own name pronounced as he particularly disliked to hear it--Rumfree. Two or three men scowled at him.