The letter was as follows:
“Riddel,—If you want to get to the bottom of that boat-race affair, you had better see what Tom the boat-boy has to say. That’s all.”
Chapter Twenty Three.
Tom the Boat-boy earns four-and-sixpence.
Riddell, as he read over and over again the mysterious document in his hand, hardly knew what to make of it.
It looked like a clue, certainly. But who had sent it? Was it a friend or an enemy; and if the latter, might it not just as likely be a hoax as not?
He examined the disguised writing letter for letter, but failed to recognise in it the hand of any one he knew. He called back Cusack and cross-examined him as to how and when the letter was brought to his study; but Cusack could tell him nothing. All he knew was that when he went in to look after Riddell’s tea that afternoon, it was lying there on the table. He couldn’t say how long it had been there. He hadn’t been in the room since dinner, nor had Riddell.
Cusack was very curious to know what the letter was about concerning which the captain seemed so much excited; but Riddell declined to gratify him on this point, and put the paper away in his pocket and returned to his work.