Mr. Brown looked very mysterious, and finally seeming to muster up courage, he pulled a note from his pocket, and said to Monteagle—‘Perhaps you can tell why this note addressed to _you_ was picked up on the very spot where the murderer was sleeping.’ ‘How!’ cried Vandewater. ‘What’s in the note?’ ‘I have not taken the liberty to break the seal,’ returned Brown. ‘Its contents will be known to Mr. Monteagle whenever he chooses to do so.’ Brown handed the note to Monteagle. It was written on fine, gilt-edged paper, and directed to “Mr. Lorenzo Monteagle, Montgomery street.” The astonished youth broke the seal, and opened the note. On the top was marked “_Strictly Private_.” It read thus: ‘Dear Sir: You may think it strange that you and I were separated so suddenly on that evening in Dupont street; but a particular friend of mine was the cause, as you saw. If you are at liberty this evening call without fail to see me, but not at that house. You know the cliff near which lies the English barque St. George. I will be under that cliff, on the sea-shore at 8 o’clock precisely. This is very private. Let no one see it. It is sent by a man who will hand it to you, privately if he has an opportunity. Come if you can. MARIA.’ ‘Ah—it is too late!’ said Monteagle aloud, and putting the note into his pocket. ‘It would seem that we are not to be edified by the contents of your note,’ said Mr. Brown, looking at Vandewater. ‘What shall I do?’ said the youth to himself. ‘This is something important, without doubt.’ ‘Private is it not?’ inquired Vandewater. ‘Sir!’ said Monteagle, rather surprised at the question. ‘You must know that this is a peculiar occasion,’ said Mr. Brown, rightly interpreting Monteagle’s surprise. ‘At any other time, it would be highly improper to express any curiosity with regard to the purport of that note.’ ‘This note is nothing,’ said the youth. ‘It is strictly confidential and has no relation to the robbery whatever.’ Vandewater looked at Mr. Brown, and the latter raised his eye-brows and slowly shook his head. The grimace was not observed by Monteagle, whose thoughts were with the young lady beneath the cliff. ‘You will observe, Mr. Monteagle,’ said Brown, in a very gentle and yet distinct tone, ‘that a heavy robbery has been committed. An atrocious malefactor is found asleep in the store that has been robbed; a letter, evidently dropped by him bears your address upon its back. If he is taken and brought to trial, of course that letter will be needed.’ ‘So far I can satisfy your curiosity,’ said Monteagle. ‘It appears that Jamie was employed as messenger to bring me this letter. It is probable that he came here drunk and fell asleep.’ ‘That seems to account fully for the man’s presence. It is as I thought, that he is guiltless of the robbery,’ said Vandewater.