"I am prepared to prove all I say. If I had known that this investigation was to take place to-day, I should have asked for the attendance of several witnesses. I used all my influence to prevent any one from playing practical jokes upon Mr. Hamblin. I desire to have the first lieutenant of the Josephine, and Duncan, examined."
"What have they to do with it?" asked the professor, impatiently.
"After doing what I could to prevent others from annoying Mr. Hamblin by practical jokes, it is not likely that I should indulge in them myself."
"That is a good point; and to-morrow the witnesses shall be called," said Mr. Lowington.
"I will now ask Dr. Winstock to make his statement," added Paul, turning to the surgeon.
"The letter is postmarked 'Anvers,'" said the doctor, picking up the letter from the table. "It is utterly impossible that Captain Kendall had anything to do with this document."
"Why so, sir?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, nervously.
"This letter passed through the Antwerp post-office. If Captain Kendall had mailed it there, I should have seen him do it. He was not out of my sight a single moment from the time we left the Josephine till we returned to her. This paper," added the doctor, taking up the half quire, "was purchased in Antwerp. I went into the shop with Captain Kendall, and looked at the quality of it before it was done up."
"Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?" asked the principal.
"No, sir, I am not," replied the professor, decidedly. "I am by no means certain that the paper on which this letter was written was obtained in Antwerp. It does not follow because Dr. Winstock did not see Mr. Kendall mail this letter, that it was not mailed by him. I did not see him mail it; Mr. Lowington did not see him mail it. He could have sent it to the post-office by a dozen of his confederates."