The more I thought the sadder I became, the darker did my prospects appear. I had given Prideaux a written guarantee for the money I had been unable to pay. That piece of paper meant my ruin, if he took advantage of it. Would he do this? Yes, I would see that he did. In extremities as I was, I would rather sacrifice the land than violate our old code of honour.
I heard a knock at the door, and a servant entered.
"From Mr. Trevisa of Treviscoe, sir," he said.
I am afraid my hand trembled slightly as I took the letter.
"Who brought it, Daniel?" I asked.
"A servant, sir."
"Let breakfast be ready in ten minutes, Daniel; I'll be down by that time."
"Yes, sir."
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."