Douce had taken the letter to Mess Lethierry, who was in his room. He had taken it, placed it mechanically upon the table, and had not looked at it.
The letter remained an entire week upon the table without being unsealed.
It happened, however, one morning that Douce said to Mess Lethierry:
“Shall I brush the dust off your letter, sir?”
Lethierry seemed to arouse from his lethargy.
“Ay, ay! You are right,” he said; and he opened the letter, and read as follows:—
“At Sea, 10th March.
“To Mess Lethierry of St. Sampson.
“You will be gratified to receive news of me. I am aboard the Tamaulipas, bound for the port of ‘No-return.’ Among the crew is a sailor named Ahier-Tostevin, from Guernsey, who will return and will have some facts to communicate to you. I take the opportunity of our speaking a vessel, the Herman Cortes, bound for Lisbon, to forward you this letter.
“You will be astonished to learn that I am going to be honest.