As soon as the Rector had departed, Mr. Manwaring unlocked his black oak escritoire, and drew thence the lengthy parchment which contained the emblazoned pedigree of his Family. He then rang the bell, and when the old butler entered the room, he said, “Pinfold, I have called you to witness my act,” and then with penknife and sandpaper he deliberately erased his younger son’s name from the parchment. This done, he added, “When he who was my son arrives, show him to his room, and let him sup there; he leaves for London to-morrow, never to return. Tell the servants and people never to mention his name in my presence again. You will make the necessary preparations for his departure by the first train. In an hour’s time I shall have a letter ready, which you will put into his hands on his arrival. There, that will do; I will ring when the letter is ready.” So Pinfold retired, and the old man was left alone to write and to sign what, little as he knew it, was in veriest truth his own death-warrant. CHAPTER X. WILFRED MANWARING GOES INTO EXILE. IT was afternoon when Wilfred reached the home of his fathers--that home which was no longer to be his. The old butler, whom he had known from childhood, and who, boy and man, had lived at the Manor for close on seventy years, regarded him with a puzzled air, as, according to the orders he had received, he showed him to his room. “Here be a letter for ’ee from the Squire, Master Wilfred,” said he; and, putting a letter, sealed with a great coat of arms, into his hand, he hurried out of the room.