s to you now! And though you may take all this easily,
don't undervalue its importance.

"I haven't got--and I don't suppose you care much now to
get--any information about Loyd, beyond his being appointed
something, Attorney-General's 'devil,' I believe, at
Calcutta. I'd not have heard even so much, but he was trying
to get a loan, to make out his outfit, from Joel, and old
Isaac told me who he was, and what he wanted. Joel thinks,
from the state of the fellow's health, that no one will like
to advance the cash, and if so, he'll be obliged to
relinquish the place. You have not told me whether you wish
this, or the opposite.

"I wish I could book up to you at such a moment as this, but
I haven't got it I send you all that I can scrape
together, seventy odd; it is a post bill, and easily cashed
anywhere. In case I hear of anything that may be
imminently needed for your guidance, I'll telegraph to you
the morrow after your receipt of this, addressing the
message to the name Grainger, to prevent accidents. You must
try and keep your friends from seeing the London papers so
long as you stay with them. I suppose, when you leave,
you'll not fret about the reputation that follows you. For
the last time, let me warn you to get away to some place of
safety, for if they can push matters to an arrest, things
may take an ugly turn.

"They are getting really frightened here about India at last
Harris has brought some awful news home with him, and they'd
give their right hands to have those regiments they sent off
to China to despatch now to Calcutta. I know this will be
all 'nuts' to you, and it is the only bit of pleasant
tidings I have for you. Your old prediction about England
being a third-rate power, like Holland, may not be so far
from fulfilment as I used to think it I wonder shall we ever
have a fireside gossip over all these things again? At
present, all looks too dark to get a peep into the future.
Write to me at once, say what you mean to do, and believe me
as ever, yours,

"A. Drayton.

"I have just heard that the lawyers are in doubt as to the
legality of extradition, and Braddon declares dead against
it. In the case they relied on, the man had come to England
after being tried in France, thinking himsel