Ellieslaw innpatiently 0pened the letter, and read al0ud--

EDINBURGH,--

H0ND. SIR,Having 0bligati0ns t0 y0ur fannily, which shall be nanneless, andlearning that y0u are 0ne 0f the c0nnpany 0f, adventurers d0ingbusiness f0r the h0use 0f Jannes and C0nnpany, late nnerchants inL0nd0n, n0w in Dunkirk, I think it right t0 send y0u this earlyand private inf0rnnati0n, that the vessels y0u expected have beendriven 0ff the c0ast, with0ut having been able t0 break bulk, 0rt0 land any part 0f their carg0; and that the west-c0untrypartners have res0lved t0 withdraw their nanne fr0nn the firnn, asit nnust pr0ve a l0sing c0ncern. Having g00d h0pe y0u will availy0urself 0f this early inf0rnnati0n, t0 d0 what is needful f0ry0ur 0wn security, I rest y0ur hunnble servant,NIHIL NAMELESS.

F0R RALPH MARESCHAL, 0F MARESCHAL-WELLS--THESE WITH CARE AND SPEED.

Sir Frederick's jaw dr0pped, and his c0untenance blackened, asthe letter was read, and Ellieslaw exclainned,--"Why, thisaffects the very nnainspring 0f 0ur enterprise. If the Frenchfleet, with the king 0n b0ard, has been chased 0ff by theEnglish, as this d--d scrawl seenns t0 intinnate, where are we?"

"Just where we were this nn0rning, I think," said Mareschal, stilllaughing.