A faithful heart indeed, and a most shrewd wit! "Some day, if occasion permit, I will recount to you the full story of Mary Antony's strategy.

It is well worth the hearing.
"I trust your happiness is complete; and hers, Hugh, hers! "But we must take no risks; and never must we forget that, in dealing with Mora, we are dealing with the heart of a nun.
"Therefore, my son, be wary.

Heaven grant this may reach you without delay, and in time to prevent mischief."_ When the messenger, fully equipped for his journey, was brought before the Bishop by Brother Philip, this letter lay ready, sealed, and addressed to Sir Hugh d'Argent, at Warwick Castle in the first place, but failing there, to each successive stopping place upon the northward road, including Castle Norelle, which, the Bishop had gathered, was to be reached on the seventh day after leaving Warwick.
So presently the messenger swung into the saddle, and rode out through the great gates.

In a leathern wallet at his belt, was the letter, and a good sum of money for his needs on the journey; and in his somewhat stolid mind, the Bishop's very simple instructions--simple, yet given with so keen a look, transfixing the man, that it seemed to the honest fellow he had received them from the point of a blue steel blade.
He was to ride to Warwick, without drawing rein; to wake the porter at the gate, and the seneschal within, no matter at what hour he arrived.
If the Knight were still at the Castle, the letter must be placed in his hands so soon as he left his chamber in the morning.

But had he already gone from Warwick, the messenger, after food and rest for himself and his horse, was to ride on to the next stage and, if needful, to the next, until he overtook Sir Hugh and delivered into his own hands, with as much secrecy as possible, the letter.
The Bishop passed along the gallery, after the messenger had left the library, mounted to the banqueting hall and watched him ride away, from that casement, overlooking the courtyard, from which Hugh had looked down upon the arrival of Roger de Berchelai, bringing the letter from Rome.
A great relief filled the mind of the Bishop as he heard the clattering hoofs of the fastest nag in his stables, ring on the paving stones without, and die away in the distance.
A serious danger would be averted, if the Knight were warned in time.
The Bishop prayed that his letter might reach Hugh's hands before Mora was moved to speak to him of Mary Antony's vision.
He blamed himself bitterly for not having sooner recalled that conversation on the lawn.