It may be remembered that a certain letter written by Mr Vansittart to Godfrey Harland, and left by that gentleman in his coat pocket, was the means by which Iris discovered his intention to desert her. Strange to say, Harland had never missed the letter. He only visited his home on one occasion after that evening, and then the excitement of his new prospects, and the necessity of keeping up appearances to deceive his wife, had prevented his discovering his loss. Iris had preserved the paper carefully, and brought it with her on board the _Pandora_. She intended to produce it in proof of her right to have followed her husband to New Zealand; and, in case of his attempting to excuse himself, to confront him with the witness to his treachery. When Maggie told her that Godfrey was paying open court to Grace Vansittart, Iris took out her box of letters, and turned them over, and read that one amongst others, to see if she could discover that he had had any positive intention of committing bigamy before he started on the voyage,--whether, in fact, his wooing of Miss Vansittart was the result of an unfortunate passion, or of a premeditated crime. And, in putting back her papers, she dropped Mr Vansittart’s note upon the cabin floor. It was picked up and read by Will Farrell. As he was debating what to do with it--having promised Maggie Greet that he would never divulge to Iris that he knew her to be Godfrey Harland’s wife--Iris herself came into the cabin, and walked its length with her eyes upon the floor, as though searching for something. ‘Have you lost anything, Miss Douglas?’ asked Farrell, as he watched her. ‘Yes, I have dropped a letter--a very important letter. Have you seen it, steward?’ she said, in her sweet, low voice. ‘No, miss, I ain’t,’ replied the steward. ‘When did you have it last?’ ‘Only this morning. I was reading over some old letters, and this one amongst them. It is written on thick, glazed paper, and has a large monogram in red and gold at the top. I shall be very vexed if I lose it.’ ‘Well, I’ll find it for you if it’s aboard, miss. But p’raps it’s blowed over. The wind has been very fresh through the cabin, to-day,’ replied the steward, jingling his glasses. ‘Oh! I _hope_ not!’ exclaimed Iris, clasping her hands in genuine distress. ‘It is of the utmost consequence to me. Pray look for it at once, steward; it may have got into your pantry, amongst the breakfast things.’ The steward bundled off into his sanctum, and Will Farrell approached her with the letter in his hand. ‘Is this what you are looking for, Miss Douglas?’ Iris flushed scarlet. ‘Oh, yes, it is indeed! I am so much obliged to you! Where did you find it?’ ‘Under the table. I picked it up about an hour ago.’ Iris took the letter, and twisted it about nervously in her fingers. ‘Mr Farrell, have you read it?’ she said at last timidly. ‘Yes, Miss Douglas, I have, and, begging your pardon, I should like to know how it came into your possession.’