Should he surrender the letter unread, and fight on without the aid of the information it might bring him?
Then the thought of Ashburn and of his own deep wrongs that cried out for vengeance, overcame and stifled the generous impulse.

His manner grew yet more frozen as he made answer: "There has been too much ado about this letter to warrant my so lightly parting with it.

First I will satisfy myself that I have been no unconscious abettor of treason.

You shall have your letter tomorrow, Master Stewart." "Treason!" echoed Kenneth.

And before that cold rebuff of Crispin's his mood changed from conciliatory to resentful--resentful towards the fates that made him this man's debtor.
"I assure you, on my honour," said he, mastering his feelings, "that this is but a letter from the lady I hope to make my wife.