“How did you come to miss it before?”
“Well, the old boy didn’t copy it following on the others. It was on a page quite by itself, very nearly at the end of the book. I was looking in the index. I wanted some figures from a certain letter which I knew Sir John had copied in his own book, and I came across the reference ‘S. T. 477.’ Now, it is a 500-page letter-book. The last copied letter is on page 304. Naturally we didn’t look on through a lot of blank pages, and so we missed it. I can’t imagine why he copied it there and not in its proper place.”
“Probably he half meant to tear it out. It was most likely copied for temporary reference, and when the opportunity for its use was over he probably intended to destroy it. That would be why it was only indexed under initials.”
“What do you suppose ‘S. T.’ means?”
“Secret trust, I should guess. Would that fit the letter? Let me see it,” said Tempest.
“Well, here’s a copy of it.”
“Sir John Rellingham has received and carefully considered the letter. In the exercise of his discretion he must decline the request. He cannot but think that the interview is essential.”
“Who was it written to?”
“There isn’t a hint, and it isn’t dated.”
“When was it written?”