As Obed ended he handed the letter to Zillah, who opened it without a word, and read as follows:
"LONDON, September 10, 1859.
"SIR,--In answer to your favor of 7th instant, we beg leave to state that up to the 15th of June last we held stock and deposits from Miss Ella Lorton--i. e., consols, thirty thousand pounds (£30,000); also cash, twelve hundred and seventy-five pounds ten shillings (£1275 10s.). On the 15th of June last the above-mentioned Miss Ella Lorton appeared in person, and, with her own check, drew out the cash balance. On the 17th June she came in person and withdrew the stock, in consols, which she had deposited with us, amounting to thirty thousand pounds (£30,000) as aforesaid. That it was Miss Ella Lorton herself there is no doubt; for it was the same lady who deposited the funds, and who has sent checks to us from time to time. The party you speak of, who sent the check from Naples, must be an impostor, and we recommend you to hand her over to the police.
"We have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servants, TILTON AND BROWNE.
"OBED CHUTE, Esq."
On reading this Zillah fell back into a chair as though she had been shot, and sat looking at this fatal sheet with wild eyes and haggard face. Obed made an effort to cry for help, but it sounded like a groan. His sister came running in, and seeing Zillah's condition, she took her in her arms.
"Poor child! poor sweet child!" she cried.
[Illustration: "His Sister, Seeing Zillah's Condition, Took Her In Her Arms.">[
"It's too much! It's too much! She will die if this goes on."