Very well then, the priest, having reached the farthest point, remains standing there while the people set to work to tear off their jewels and ornaments, which were brought for the purpose, and to fling them at him. The idea is that if the article thrown reaches him or goes beyond him, the thrower’s sins are forgiven. _But the point for you and me is that whether you throw far or throw short, the jewels and ornaments fall into the water and sink._ Now this has been going on for ages, and since it would be impious for the Mexican believers to attempt to recover any of the treasure it follows that it is there still. My plan is very simple—merely to form a small company and to drain the lake. I can give you no particulars at the moment—I have not even ascertained how big the lake is—but I am being very active about it and am already on the track of a first-class engineer. As he, however, requires a financial guarantee, I am hoping that you will see your way to invest, say, £1000 at once and perhaps more later.—I am, your affectionate nephew, HORACE MUN-BROWN _P.S._—How interesting it would be if I could spend my honeymoon visiting the place with Hazel and making inquiries! But alas! that is probably too rosy a dream. CXV ANTOINETTE ROSSITER TO HER MOTHER DARLINGEST MUMMY,—Thank you for being such an angel about the cod liver oil. I like Ovaltine much better but Daddy says it is to make you lay eggs. Sarah was so funny yesterday. Daddy told her to bring him last week’s _Punch_ from the library and she brought a much older one. When he was cross with her she said “O I never look at dates.” You should have seen Daddy’s face. And to-day when she was telling us about the butcher being rude to her she said “But I don’t mind, I always treat him with ignorance.” Nurse’s young man, Bert Urible, has been here. He has come back from Messupotamia. Cyril saw him kiss her in the kitchen. He bought us some pear drops and nurse took some of his War relics upstairs to show Daddy and Daddy sent for him and gave him a whisky and soda. When I asked him if he had killed many Turks he said “Not half.”—Your loving TONY x x x x x x x x CXVI ROY BARRANCE TO CLEMENCY POWER