“He was, sir, with members of this household.” Mrs. Winthrop hesitated briefly, then continued, “I think that I had better tell you that, since his return from Panama a short time ago, my brother received a number of threatening letters.”
“Indeed,” Brett’s tone betrayed his satisfaction. “Can I see the letters?”
“Unfortunately my brother destroyed the one he showed me.”
“What was its contents?” inquired Brett.
“To the best of my recollection the message, which was written in an obviously disguised writing, read somewhat like this:
“‘Your movements are watched. If you act, you die’.”
“Did you see the envelope?” asked Brett, as he jotted down the words in his memorandum book.
“No. At the time my brother showed it to me he told me that he had received several others; that he had no idea to what they referred; and that he never paid attention to anonymous communications.”
“I see.” Brett thoughtfully replaced his notebook in his pocket. “Can I talk to your niece, Miss Cynthia Carew?”