To her amazement she recognised the well-known script of Symon, Bishop
of Worcester. How many a letter had reached her hands addressed in
these neat characters.
Yet Hugh had left her, and gone upon this ride of many days to
Worcester in order to see the Bishop, because he had received a letter
telling him, without sufficient detail, a matter of importance.
Probably the letter she now held in her hands should have reached him
first. Doubtless had he received it, he need not have gone.
Pondering this matter, and almost unconscious that she did so, Mora
broke the seals. Then paused, even as she began to unfold the
parchment, questioning whether to read it or to let it await Hugh's
return.
But not long did she hesitate. It was upon a matter which closely
concerned her. That much Hugh had admitted. It might be imperative to
take immediate action concerning this first letter, which by so strange
a mishap had arrived after the other. Unless she mastered its
contents, she could not act.
Ascending the turret stairway, Mora stepped again on to the battlements.
The golden ramparts in the west had faded; but a blood-red banner still
floated above the horizon. The sky overhead was clear.
Sitting upon the seat on which she had sat while telling Hugh of old
Mary Antony's most blessed and wondrous vision, Mora unfolded and read
the Bishop's letter.
CHAPTER XLIX
TWICE DECEIVED
The blood-red banner had drooped, dipped, and vanished.
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