You know me pretty well and know therefore that I'm not a prying sort of fellow--don't you? So that when I ask you to tell me all you know about Miss May Derwent--I hope you will believe that I am animated by no idle curiosity. A doctor is often forced to carry more secrets than a family solicitor, and is as much in honor bound. Through no fault of my own, I have come into the possession of certain facts relating to Miss Derwent which lead me to believe that she is in great trouble. Furthermore, I am convinced that I could help her, were I not handicapped by my very slight personal acquaintance with her, but more than that by my entire ignorance regarding certain details of her life. I might as well acknowledge that I am interested in the young lady, and am anxious to serve her if I can. But if I am to do so, I must first find out a few particulars of her life, and these I hope you can give me. In the first place I want to know whether she has any young male relative who is tall, with good figure? I remember hearing that she is an only child, but has she no cousin with whom she is on terms of brotherly intimacy? Secondly, Is she engaged, or reported to be engaged, and if so, to whom? Thirdly, What are the names of her most favored suitors? Fourthly, What lady does she know intimately who has very dark hair, and is also slight and tall? I don't need to tell you to treat this letter as absolutely confidential, nor to assure you again that only the deepest interest in Miss Derwent, and the conviction that she is in need of help, induce me to pry into her affairs. More than this I cannot tell you, so don't ask me. Good-night, old chap! Hope your leg is getting on all right. Affectionately yours, CHARLES K. FORTESCUE. HOPE FARM, BEVERLEY, L. I., Friday, August 11.