"Oh, by the way, Fosdick, I forgot to tell you that I had a letter from Mr. Bates to-day."
"Did you? What does he say?"
"I will read it to you."
Richard drew the letter from the envelope, and read as follows:—
"My dear Mr. Hunter:—I have received your letter, reporting that you have as yet obtained no trace of my unfortunate grandson, John Talbot. I thank you sincerely for your kind and persistent efforts. I fear that he may have left New York, possibly in the care of persons unfit to take charge of him. It is a great source of anxiety to me lest he should be suffering privation and bad treatment at this moment, when I, his grandfather, have abundance of worldly means, and have it in my power to rear him handsomely. I cannot help feeling that it is a fitting punishment for the cruel harshness with which I treated his mother. Now I am amassing wealth but I have no one to leave it to. I feel that I have small object in living. Yet I cannot give up the thought that my grandson is still living. I cannot help indulging the hope that some day, by the kind favor of Providence, he may be given back to me.
"If it will not be too much trouble to you and Mr. Fosdick, I shall feel indebted if you will still continue on the watch for the lost boy. Any expenses which you may incur, as I have already assured you, will be most cheerfully paid by your obliged friend and servant,
"Hiram Bates."
While Richard was reading this letter, Mark listened attentively. Looking up, Richard observed this.
"Did you ever meet with a boy named John Talbot, Mark?" he inquired.
"No," said Mark, "not John Talbot."