"What do you mean, sir ?" Taking from his pocket a copy of the letter he had picked up on the staircase, Jefferson held it out to the girl's father.
"Your daughter is preparing to run away with my father's secretary.

To-morrow would have been too late.

That is why I summoned you.

Read this." The senator took the letter, and as he read his face grew ashen and his hand trembled violently.

At one blow all his ambitious projects for his daughter had been swept away.