“Dear God, the letter! I had forgotten the letter!”
Tiffany slipped from the room. Evander answered Brilliana’s cry very calmly.
“For the second, so had I. But, indeed, dear lady and friend, I know its terms.”
“You cannot be sure,” Brilliana whispered.
“I am sure,” Evander replied. “I know Colonel Cromwell.”
The door opened again and Thoroughgood entered, splashed with mud and carrying a letter in his hand.
“My lady,” said Thoroughgood, “I have ridden hard and long to find the rebels. I have killed two horses; I had to wait on Colonel Cromwell’s leisure; I was fired at thrice as I rode. At long last and through many perils here is the letter.”
“I thank you,” Brilliana said. “You are a faithful servant. Seek wine and food and rest.”
Thoroughgood saluted her and went out. He looked fagged to exhaustion. In the passage he found Tiffany, kissing-kind. Brilliana opened the letter and read it slowly. Then she gave a cry.
“Pray you read, lady,” Evander said, composedly. Brilliana complied in a hard, set voice.