Yes, it was from Geoffrey de Fynes; she had half hoped to have seen him this day, why had he written instead? So, with a heart surmising evil, she proceeded to read the letter. As she did so, her cheeks paled and her hands trembled. Then she rang a small silver bell which stood at her side, and her maid Janet appeared in answer to the summons. "Ask my father to come hither to me, Janet," she said, and the maid hastened away. Her father presently entered her room, his face still wreathed with smiles. But the expression of his face changed suddenly as he looked upon his daughter, who held out the letter to him. "What is it, Susan," he said quickly, "what has happened?" "Read, father!" she replied in a troubled voice. The writer of the letter was a member of a great Sussex family—a family whose wrongs moved the pity of all men. The head of the house of Geoffrey de Fynes had suffered a traitor's death in the year 1545, since which time the family had been degraded "in blood and honours." Yet never had Justice so surely missed its mark as when young Lord Dacres lost his head at Tyburn! Young Geoffrey de Fynes at the present time held the office of Secretary to the High Sheriff of the County; just now his duties had called him to Lewes. He was a frequent visitor at Chiddingly Place, and between him and Susan a strong attachment had sprung up, though no betrothal had taken place. William Jefferay took the letter from his daughter's hand and read it carefully; it was as follows— "This from the hand of one who loves thee well, and whose chief object in life is to do thee service. Hence I write this letter, and I do so with a clear conscience, though the writing of it might cause the loss of my post, and make me an inmate of Lewes gaol! Yet I dare not do otherwise, for thy happiness is dearer to me than aught else in this life! "Now to come at once to the point. "It has come to my knowledge that a warrant has been issued by the Crown for the apprehension of the Vicar of Chiddingly. "A Pursuivant, with three men-at-arms, will leave Lewes for Chiddingly three days hence, soon after daybreak. They will travel on horseback, and their object is to arrest the Vicar, bring him hither, and afterwards convey him to London. "Thou mayest show this letter to thy father, but to none other. Between you some plan may be devised whereby he shall escape the malice of his foes. I suggest that he flee to the Continent, but thy father will be his best counsellor." Then the letter of Geoffrey de Fynes drifted off into other matters which concerned Susan only. "When you have finished reading that letter I counsel you to destroy it— for Geoffrey's sake," said William Jefferay to his daughter, as he handed it back to her. "Oh, father," said Susan, "what is to be done?" "I know not," replied her father, "unless we can persuade the Vicar to flee."