Publisher's Synopsis
Adam Salton sauntered into the Empire Club, Sydney, and found awaiting him a letter from hisgrand-uncle. He had first heard from the old gentleman less than a year before, when RichardSalton had claimed kinship, stating that he had been unable to write earlier, as he had found it verydifficult to trace his grand-nephew's address. Adam was delighted and replied cordially; he hadoften heard his father speak of the older branch of the family with whom his people had long losttouch. Some interesting correspondence had ensued. Adam eagerly opened the letter which hadonly just arrived, and conveyed a cordial invitation to stop with his grand-uncle at Lesser Hill, for aslong a time as he could spare."Indeed," Richard Salton went on, "I am in hopes that you will make your permanent homehere. You see, my dear boy, you and I are all that remain of our race, and it is but fitting that youshould succeed me when the time comes. In this year of grace, 1860, I am close on eighty years ofage, and though we have been a long-lived race, the span of life cannot be prolonged beyondreasonable bounds. I am prepared to like you, and to make your home with me as happy as youcould wish. So do come at once on receipt of this, and find the welcome I am waiting to give you. Isend, in case such may make matters easy for you, a banker's draft for £200. Come soon, so that wemay both of us enjoy many happy days together. If you are able to give me the pleasure of seeingyou, send me as soon as you can a letter telling me when to expect you. Then when you arrive atPlymouth or Southampton or whatever port you are bound for, wait on board, and I will meet youat the earliest hour possible."
