Pharos the Egyptian | Page 3

to an old friend to let him hear from you, but at the same time to refuse
to permit him to communicate with you? Why all this mystery? If you
are in trouble, who would so gladly share it with you as your old friend?

If you need help, who would so willingly give it? Are the years during
which we have known each other to count for nothing? Trust me, and I
think you are aware that I will not abuse your confidence.
"'Your affectionate friend, '"WILLIAM BETFORD.'

"Having blotted it, I placed the letter in an envelope, directed it to Cyril
Forrester, Esq., and handed it to De Silva, who placed it carefully in an
inner pocket and rose to take leave of me.
"'Will nothing induce you to reveal your employer's present place of
residence?' I said. 'I assure you I am most anxious to prove his friend.'
"'I can easily believe that,' he answered. 'He has often spoken of you in
terms of the warmest affection. If you could hear him, I am sure you
would have no doubt on that score."
"I was much affected, as you may imagine, on hearing this, and his
assertion emboldened me to risk yet another question.
"'Upon one point, at least, you can set my mind at rest,' I said. 'Is Mr.
Forrester happy?'
"'He is a man who has done with happiness such as you mean, and will
never know it again,' he answered solemnly.
"'My poor old friend,' I said, half to myself and half to him; and then
added, 'Is there no way in which I can help him?'
"'None,' De Silva replied. 'But I can tell you no more, so I beg you will
not ask me.'
"'But you can surely answer one other question,' I continued, this time
with what was almost a note of supplication in my voice. 'You can tell
me whether, in your opinion, we, his friends, will see him again, or if
he intends to spend the remainder of his life in exile?'

"'That I can safely answer. No! You will never see him again. He will
not return to this country, or to the people who have known him here.'
"'Then may God help him and console him, for his trouble must be
bitter indeed!'
"'It is well-nigh insupportable,' said De Silva, with the same solemnity;
and then, picking up his hat, bowed, and moved towards the door.
"'I must risk one last question. Tell me if he will communicate with me
again?'
"'Never,' the other replied. 'He bade me tell you, should you ask, that
you must henceforth consider him as one who is dead. You must not
attempt to seek for him, but consign him to that oblivion in which only
he can be at peace.'
"Before I could say more he had opened the door and passed into the
hall. A moment later I heard the front door close behind him, a step
sounded on the gravel before my window, and I was left standing upon
the hearthrug, staring at the packet upon the table. Then the gong
sounded, and I thrust the roll into a drawer. Having securely locked the
latter, I hastened to the drawing-room to meet my guests.
"Needless to say, my demeanour during dinner was not marked with
any great degree of gaiety. The interview with De Silva had upset me
completely; and though I endeavoured to play the part of an attentive
host, my attempt was far from being successful. I found my thoughts
continually reverting to that curious interview in the study, and to the
packet which had come into my possession in such a mysterious
manner, the secret contained in which I had still to learn.
"After dinner we adjourned to the billiard-room, where we spent the
evening; consequently it was not until my guests bade me 'Good-night,'
and retired to their various rooms, by which time it was well after
eleven o'clock, that I found myself at liberty to return to the study.
"Once there, I made up the fire, wheeled an easy chair to a position

before it, arranged the reading lamp so that the light should fall upon
the paper over my left shoulder, and having made these preparations,
unlocked the drawer and took out the packet De Silva had handed to
me.
"It was with a mixture of pain, a small measure of curiosity, but more
apprehension as to what I should find within, that I cut the string and
broke the seals. Inside I discovered a note and a roll of manuscript in
that fine and delicate handwriting we used to know so well. After a
hasty glance at it, I put the latter aside, and opened the envelope. The
note I found within was addressed