Taking the letter which was offered them, they sought and obtained permission to retire into an inner room, where it might be perused without fear of interruption. On their return, after the lapse of some ten minutes, the younger of the two men remarked;— "No doubt, Mrs. Sinclair, you were greatly surprised at the news which this letter brought?" "So much so, sir, that I fainted; and it was some time before I was fully able to recover myself." "I can well believe it. But you will, no doubt, be still more astonished when I tell you that we are already in full possession of all which that letter reveals, and a little more." [Illustration: "WE ARE ALREADY IN FULL POSSESSION OF ALL WHICH THAT LETTER REVEALS."] "You certainly do surprise me, sir, since I cannot see how you could have obtained the information, which my son alone was in possession of, since he begs in that letter that it may be communicated privately and confidentially to you." "As a proof, we can tell you his address when he wrote was at Ranger’s Ranch, M’Lean Station, Assiniboia, North-West Canada." "You will have noticed the address at the top of his letter has been cut away; this I did at his request, that you might not at present be informed as to where he is to be found." "Yes; and we could not help smiling as we observed what had been done." "But," said Mrs. Sinclair, much agitated, "may I ask how you obtained your information?" "Certainly," replied Mr. Quinion. "It is now six or seven weeks ago since we received a letter from a person in Canada, who, although giving us his name, has requested that it may not be made known, conveying just such information as the letter you now bring contains." "Then it would be useless to ask you for the name of your informant?" said Mrs. Sinclair. "Well, without the writer’s permission it would scarcely be honourable on our part to do so." "Does he state how he came by the knowledge of what he writes you?" inquired the mother. "Yes; he states that it was a confession he overheard your son make, but to whom, or under what circumstances, is not mentioned." "Does he give any reason for writing to you as he has done?" "All he says on that point is, that he thought it right to do so, in case we should like to know." "It cannot be regarded as a friendly act," Mrs. Sinclair, after some hesitation, found herself able to say. "No; that is how we regarded it," said Mr. Quinion quietly. "May I ask," inquired the mother, with some anxiety, "if you have taken any action in the matter?"