June 25, ’02.

    My dear M. Lapierre: 

We have had a terrible voyage.  A horrible storm broke loose in mid-ocean, endangering all our lives....  The waves, like mountains, threatened every instant to swallow us all; the spectacle was terrifying.  I fell from the top of the stairs ’way down into the hole (sic), hurting my right leg in the centre of the tibia bone.  The ship’s doctor, who is nothing but a stupid fool, left me helpless almost the entire day....  If ever I should have dreamt what would occur to me in this trip, not for all the gold in the world would I have embarked.  But, now that I am here, I shall not retreat before any obstacle, in order to arrive at the fulfillment of my enterprise, and no matter at what cost, even at that of my life.  It is necessary that I succeed—­my pride demands it.  Those who are in the right shall triumph, that is sure....  In the mean time, will you kindly give my regards to Madame and your son, and all of your relatives, not forgetting your good old servant.  Squeezing your hand cordially, I bid you adieu.

    Your devoted,

    Pedro S. de Moreno.

“Can you not see the waves, and observe him falling down the hole?” asks Madame Reddon,

“Mais, voici une autre.”

    July 11, 1902.

    M. Jean Lapierre.

My dear M. Lapierre:  As soon as I could walk a little I began my research for the impostors of the inheritance Tessier.  Without a doubt some person who is interested in the case has already advised them of my arrival in New York, and to take the necessary precautions to lead me astray in my researches.

Already I have discovered almost everything.  I know even the house in which resided the deceased before his death.  It is a house of twenty-five stories high, which resembles the Church of Saint Magdalene in Paris.  To-day it is the biggest bank in New York.  I have visited it from top to bottom, ascending and descending in steel elevators.  This is a marvelous palace; it is worth more than five million dollars.  The house itself has the numbers 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118.  In other words, it covers the ground of ten other houses made into one.

    I have also visited six houses belonging to him, which are worth
    millions and are located around Central Park....

As soon as the brothers Lespinasse knew that I had arrived in New York they immediately took their departure, one for Paris to find his father, Emmeric Lespinasse, the other to the city of Tuxpan, in Mexico, to visit the properties stolen from the heirs.  I have come to an understanding with the Reverend Father Van Rensselaer, Father Superior of the Jesuits, and have offered him two millions for his poor, in recompense for his aid to recover and to enter into possession of the inheritance.  He takes great pains, and is my veritable guide