"Good," said Herries, throwing this aside, "then Kyles is still in England."
"And in Tarhaven," said Elspeth, who had been reading over his shoulder, "I should not be at all surprised, Angus, if he had anchored the 'Tarabacca' in this port."
"Nor should I. However we can easily ascertain that fact. Meanwhile let us see what your father has been doing," and he opened the second letter. While he read it, his wife glanced at the envelope, "I see that your father asks me to come to the 'Marsh Inn' this afternoon," said the young man, rapidly reading the few lines, "he has,--so he says,--discovered something important."
"Strange," murmured Elspeth to herself, and taking no notice.
"What is strange?"
"This envelope has not the Desleigh post-mark on it."
Herries examined the envelope in his turn.
"It must have been posted in Tarhaven,--it has that post-mark on it at all events. I expect your father sent it here by hand to be posted."
"No, there is a stamp on the envelope. If papa intended to send it to you by hand, he would not have wasted a stamp."
They both thought this strange, and tried to puzzle out the reason but could arrive at no conclusion.