"Does he state how he came by the knowledge of what he writes you?" inquired the mother.
"Yes; he states that it was a confession he overheard your son make, but to whom, or under what circumstances, is not mentioned."
"Does he give any reason for writing to you as he has done?"
"All he says on that point is, that he thought it right to do so, in case we should like to know."
"It cannot be regarded as a friendly act," Mrs. Sinclair, after some hesitation, found herself able to say.
"No; that is how we regarded it," said Mr. Quinion quietly.
"May I ask," inquired the mother, with some anxiety, "if you have taken any action in the matter?"
"Well, this is what we have done: through our solicitors here, we instructed agents in Canada to inquire fully into the truth of all the letter contains; to ascertain, beyond a doubt, whether the person referred to is the one in whom we have any interest; the character of the person who has written to us, and the motives which would probably cause him to act as he has done. We are expecting by every mail to receive this agent's report, as by it we propose being guided in the course we ought to adopt."
"Oh, my dear friends! I do hope," said Mrs. Sinclair in anguished tones, "you will not think of having my poor boy prosecuted?"
"That is a matter, Mrs. Sinclair, on which we have arrived at no decision at present," was Mr. Quinion's reply.