"Your lordship is right," said Captain Mangles, "besides, it was also theirs."
"It is agreed, then. I will write this document, uniting these parts of words and fragments of phrases, leaving the gaps that separate them, and filling up those the meaning of which is not ambiguous. Then we will compare them and form an opinion."
Glenarvan at once took a pen, and, in a few moments, presented to his friends a paper on which were written the following lines:
At this moment a sailor informed the captain that the Duncan was entering the Frith of Clyde, and asked his orders.
"What are your lordship's wishes?" said the captain, addressing Lord Glenarvan.
"Reach Dumbarton as quickly as possible, captain. Then, while Lady Helena returns to Malcolm Castle, I will go to London and submit this document to the authorities."
The captain gave his orders in pursuance of this, and the mate executed them.
"Now, my friends," said Glenarvan, "we will continue our investigations. We are on the track of a great catastrophe. The lives of several men depend upon our sagacity. Let us use therefore all our ingenuity to divine the secret of this enigma."
"We are ready, my dear Edward," replied Lady Helena.