“Don’t you deny it, for you know you did; and if you don’t tell me the truth, my father is a magistrate, and I’ll have you punished.”

“I was told not to tell,” replied Joey, pretending to be frightened. “But you must tell; yes, and tell me immediately.”

“I hope you are not angry, miss.”

“No, not if you tell the truth.”

“I don’t exactly know, miss, but a gentleman—”

“What gentleman?”

“A gentleman that came to uncle, miss.”

“A gentleman that came to your uncle; well, go on.”

“I suppose he wrote the letter, but I’m not sure; and uncle gave me the letter to put it where you might see it.”

“Oh, then, a gentleman, you say, gave your uncle this letter, and your uncle gave it to you to bring to me. Is that it?”