"Be calm--be calm, my dear cousin," exclaimed Richard de Ashby.
"Calm!" shouted the young Earl--"Calm! with my father's blood crying for vengeance from the earth, and my sword yet undrawn!"
"But listen," said Richard. "I have thought, as we came along, of a fact which may give us some insight into this affair. Yesterday evening, on my arrival here, ere any of us knew aught of your father's death, the old hall porter told me, on my inquiring for him, that the Earl had gone forth alone, having received a letter brought by some peasant boy. He mentioned the boy's name, for he seemed to know him, and therefore I ventured, as we passed the gates just now, to bid the warder speak with the old man, and have the boy sent for with all speed. 'Tis but right that we should know who that note came from."
"Let the porter be sent for," cried Alured--"let the porter be sent for."
"I will call him," said Richard, and left the ball.
In a moment after, he returned with the old man, followed by a young clown of some thirteen years of age. The boy stayed near the door, but Richard de Ashby advanced with the porter, the latter bowing low to his lord as he came up.
"Who brought the letter given to my father just before he went out yesterday?" demanded the young Earl, in a stern tone.
"Dickon, the son of Ugtred, the swine-driver, my lord," replied the porter; "he lives hard by, and there he stands."
"Did he say aught when he delivered it?" asked Richard de Ashby.
"Nothing, Sir Richard," answered the porter, "but to give it to my lord directly."