"I said I would write," he said, in a strangled voice. "I promised Charles in the pantry; it was a faithful promise."
Mr. Goodwin looked up in surprise, and his manner changed.
"Wait a minute," he said, eagerly; "the letters shall go. We will manage it somehow. Is Charles the butler at home?"
"No; that is Mr. Parker."
"What is he, then?"
"He does things for Mr. Parker. Mr. Parker points, and Charles hands the plates."
"Footman, perhaps?"
"Yes," said John, with relief, "that's Charles."
"Now," said Mr. Goodwin, with interest, "shall we put, 'The footman, Overleigh Castle,' on the envelope? Then it will be sure to reach him."
"There's Francis; he's a footman, too," suggested John, but with dawning hope. "Francis might get it then. He took a kidney once!"