For this last perusal John appears none the wiser, being unable to divine more than at first--murder and treachery seem the plot. John thinks the Captain just like Gory, the murderer, in the Chamber of Horrors, at the wax-works; and that Victoria Villa resembles "Greenacre Hall," depicted in the pictorial newspaper. John is sadly perplexed as to where he shall seek counsel--of course, thinking of every one foreign to the case; until, happily, he remembers one that ought to have been thought of first--to Mr. Spohf will he send the mysterious note, ask his advice, and act upon it:--but, unfortunately, John sealed the envelope with Mr. Brown's crest--a circumstance that made Mr. Spohf think the letter from his old friend Brown; so he answers it as such--feeling much pleasure that _his_ advice should be sought;--saying, the enclosed note appeared to be about some drama some one had to write--a document of no serious import. As to _strangers_, he should advise caution; for it is the aim of a rogue to look as much like a trusty friend as possible; quiet watchfulness is well, for that can harm no one. This answer from Mr. Spohf was promptly delivered by the little tailor's daughter to the expectant John; who naturally thought it for him. Curiously, John and his master both owned the name of Brown--John Brown:--now John, the servant, was conscientious; and would not, on any account, have opened his master's letters--he drew the line of propriety much further off,--it stopped at reading in at the ends. John felt sure _this_ letter was for him--not that he liked being called an esquire; yet, for all that, he felt safe, for there, extra-large and important, was the word "_Private_"--a military distinction that made him doubly certain; so, he bore away the letter, in great trepidation, to his quarters in the tiles, there to be much relieved by its contents; vowing, as he lay on his bed, to be watchful as the Duke on the look-out in his "Battle of Waterloo," and dumb as a dead drummer in the foreground.