The Silent Shore: A RomanceBloundelle-Burton, John
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The Silent Shore: A Romance
Bloundelle-Burton, John
English fiction -- 19th century
"Yes," he answered. "Yes. I see written on one, '_Sent C 500 dols_.,'
on another, '_Sent 2,000 Escudos_,' and on the third again, '_Sent C
500 dols_.'"
"What do the letters say?" they both asked.
"I will read them."
He did so carefully, and then he turned round and said:
"They are all from some man signing himself _Corot_, and dating from
Puerto Cortes, who seems to think he had, or, perhaps, really had,
since money was sent, some claim upon him. In the first one he says
none has been forthcoming for a long while, and that, though he does
not want for himself, some woman, whom he calls _Juanna_, is ill and
requires luxuries. He finishes his letter with, 'Yours ever devotedly.'
In the second he writes more strongly, says that _Juanna_ is dying,
and that, as she has committed no fault, he insists upon having money.
After this the largest sum was sent."
"And the third?" they both asked.
"The third is more important. It says _Juanna_ is dead, that he is
going to England on business, and that, as he has heard Cundall is
also about to set out for that country, he will see him there,
as he cannot cross Honduras to do so. And he finishes his letter
by saying: 'Do not, however, think that her death relieves you
from your liability to me. Justice, and the vile injuries done to us,
make it imperative on you to provide for me for ever out of your
evilly-acquired wealth. This justice I will have, and you know I am
one who will not hesitate to enforce my rights. Remember how I served
_José_, and beware.'"
"This is a faithful translation?" Stuart asked.
"Take it to an interpreter, as you doubt me?" Penlyn said.
"I do not doubt you, Lord Penlyn," the other replied, "and I beg your
pardon for this and any other suspicions I may have shown. Will you
forgive me?"
"Yes," Penlyn said, and he held out his hand to the other, and Stuart
took it.
"If this man is in England," Mr. Fordyce said, "and we could only find
him out, and also discover what his movements have been, we should,
perhaps, be very near the murderer."
"Every detective in London shall be set to work to-night, especially
those who understand foreigners and their habits, to find him if he is
here. And if he is, he will have to give a very full account of
himself before he finds himself free," Stuart said.
CHAPTER XII.
The conversation between the three was, necessarily, of so lengthy a
nature, that Lord Penlyn desired them to partake of some luncheon,
which invitation they accepted. While it was proceeding, they
continued to discuss fully all the extraordinary circumstances of
which they had any knowledge in connection with the murder of Walter
Cundall, and also of the position in which Penlyn now found himself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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