I broke the seal of the letter and read it. I soon discovered that it was written by young Peter Trevisa. For, first of all, it was written in a clear hand and correctly spelt, and I knew that old Peter's writing was crabbed and ill-shapen; besides which, the old man had not learnt the secret of stringing words together with anything like ease. The contents of the epistle, too, revealed the fact that the son, and not the father, acted as scribe. The following is an exact transcript thereof: "TREVISCOE the 25th day of March in the year 1745. "_To Roger Trevanion, Esq., of Trevanion._ "DEAR SIR:--The events of last night having altered their complexion somewhat after you left the house of Geoffry Luxmore, Esq., and the writing which you gave to Mr. Edward Prideaux having changed hands, with that gentleman's consent, it has become necessary for you to visit Treviscoe without delay. My father has therefore instructed me to write (instead of employing our attorney, who has up to the present conducted all correspondence relating to my father's connections with Trevanion) urging your presence here. I am also asked to impress upon you the fact that it will be greatly to your advantage to journey here immediately, while your delay will be perilous to yourself. We shall therefore expect you here within two hours from the delivery of this letter. "PETER TREVISA." This communication certainly looked ominous, and I felt in no very pleasant frame of mind as I entered the room beneath, where my breakfast had been placed for me. "Where is the fellow who brought this, Daniel?" I asked of my old serving-man. "He is standin' outside, sur. He wudden cum in. He seemed in a terble 'urry." I went to the door and saw a horse which had evidently been hard ridden. It was covered with mud and sweat. The man who stood by the animal's side touched his hat when he saw me. "Go into the kitchen, my man, and get something to eat and drink," I said. "I must not, sur," was the reply. "My master told me to ride hard, and to return immediately I got your answer." "Anything wrong at Treviscoe?" "Not as I know ov, sur."