"Good and Tender Creature,--I ascertained, a good while ago, thinking
that probably I might have to make this kind of application to you,
where you were living and with whom. It was not difficult; I only had
to connect you with Mr. Hugh Mountjoy and to find out where he lived. I
congratulate you on being so well able to take care of yourself. You
are probably settled for life in a comfortable home. I feel as happy
about it as if I had myself contributed to thus satisfactory result.
"I have no intention of making myself more disagreeable than I am
obliged to do. Necessity, however, knows no law. You will understand me
when I tell you that I have spent all my money. I do not regret the
manner in which the money has been spent, but the fact that it has all
gone. This it is which cuts me to the heart.
"I have also discovered that the late lamented Lord Harry, whose death
I myself have the greatest reasons to deplore, played me a scurvy trick
in regard to certain sums of money. The amount for which he was insured
was not less than 15,000 pounds. The amount as he stated it to me was
only 4,000 pounds. In return for certain services rendered at a
particular juncture I was to receive the half of the insurance money. I
only received 2,000 pounds, consequently there is still due to me the
sum of 5,500 pounds. This is a large lump of money. But Mr. Mountjoy
is, I believe, a wealthy man. He will, doubtless, see the necessity of
paying this money to me without further question or delay.
"You will, therefore, seek his presence--he is now, I hear, at home.
You may read to him any part of this letter that you please, and you
will let him know that I am in earnest. A man with empty pockets cannot
choose but be in earnest.
"He may very possibly object.
"Very good. In that case you will tell him that a fraud has been
committed in connection with which I am prepared to make a full
confession. I consented, on the death of my patient, and at the earnest
entreaty of Lord Harry Norland, to represent the dead man as his
lordship. I then went away, resolving to have nothing more to do with
the further villainy which I believe was carried on to the obtaining of
the whole amount for which he was insured.
"The murder of Lord Harry immediately afterwards caused the Company to
drop their intended prosecution. I shall reveal to them the present
residence of his widow, and shall place my evidence at their
disposition. Whatever happens I shall make the facts of the case
public. This done, nothing can hurt me; while, whether the Public
Prosecutor intervenes or not, neither Mr. Hugh Mountjoy nor his wife
can ever show face to the world again.