THE LOST STRADIVARIUS





Letter from MISS SOPHIA MALTRAVERS
to her Nephew, SIR EDWARD MALTRAVERS,
then a Student at Christ Church, Oxford.

13 Pauncefort Buildings, Bath,
Oct. 21, 1867.

MY DEAR EDWARD,

It was your late father's dying request that certain events which
occurred in his last years should be communicated to you on your coming
of age. I have reduced them to writing, partly from my own recollection,
which is, alas! still too vivid, and partly with the aid of notes taken
at the time of my brother's death. As you are now of full age, I submit
the narrative to you. Much of it has necessarily been exceedingly
painful to me to write, but at the same time I feel it is better that
you should hear the truth from me than garbled stories from others who
did not love your father as I did.

Your loving Aunt,
SOPHIA MALTRAVERS


To Sir Edward Maltravers, Bart.