“From this letter I learned that the son had been given away at birth, and was to know nothing of his true parentage until he had reached years of maturity; that he himself had been shipwrecked, as reported years ago, but had escaped in some miraculous manner; that reaching Africa at last, he disclosed his identity to no one, but devoted all his energies to acquiring a fortune for his son.  He succeeded even beyond his anticipations, and when nearly twenty years had elapsed, sailed for his old Australian home, to find his son.  Arriving there, he learned that his son, while pursuing his studies in England, had obtained information of the will made in his father’s favor, and learning facts which led him to believe that the will was still in existence and in the possession of his father’s younger brother, had, with the advice of his London attorneys, gone to America, and was then in his uncle’s employ for the purpose of securing proof regarding the will, and, if possible, possession of the will itself.  Upon learning these facts, my brother had immediately proceeded to London and to Barton & Barton, his son’s attorneys, who, upon his arrival there, informed him of his son’s success up to that time, and also notified him that his brother was about to celebrate his approaching fiftieth birthday by naming the son of Ralph Mainwaring as his heir, Ralph Mainwaring and family having just sailed to America for that purpose.  My brother then took the first steamer for America, arriving only two days later than Ralph Mainwaring.  Though unable to obtain an interview with me at once, as he had intended, he had succeeded in catching sight of me, in order to assure himself that the marked resemblance between us still existed, and, to emphasize that resemblance, he then shaved and had his hair cut in the same style in which I wore mine, so as to render the likeness the more striking and indisputable when he should announce himself to me.

“His existence and return he wished kept secret from his son until the successful consummation of his plans, but he wrote the letter as an explanation in case there should be any unforeseen termination.  The letter was overflowing with a father’s love and pride; his allusion to the difficulty with which he had restrained his feelings when he found himself face to face with his son on the afternoon of his call, being especially touching.  The perusal of that letter added a hundred-fold to my own grief and remorse.  I dared not run the risk of disclosing myself by sending it to my brother’s son, but I have preserved it carefully for him, and desire it to be given him as quickly as possible.