Major had actually got a letter of Miss Rouncy's in his own pocket-book.
Let it be a lesson to women how they write. And in very high spirits
Major Pendennis went to call upon Doctor Portman at the Deanery, and told
him what happy discoveries he had made on the previous night. As they
sate in confidential conversation in the Dean's oak breakfast-parlour
they could look across the lawn and see Captain Costigan's window, at
which poor Pen had been only too visible some three weeks since. The
Doctor was most indignant against Mrs. Creed, the landlady, for her
duplicity, in concealing Sir Derby Oaks's constant visits to her lodgers,
and threatened to excommunicate her out of the Cathedral. But the wary
Major thought that all things were for the best; and, having taken
counsel with himself over night, felt himself quite strong enough to go
and face Captain Costigan.

"I'm going to fight the dragon," he said, with a laugh, to Doctor
Portman.

"And I shrive you, sir, and bid good fortune go with you," answered the
Doctor. Perhaps he and Mrs. Portman and Miss Myra, as they sate with
their friend, the Dean's lady, in her drawing-room, looked up more than
once at the enemy's window to see if they could perceive any signs of the
combat.

The Major walked round, according to the directions given him, and soon
found Mrs. Creed's little door. He passed it, and as he ascended to
Captain Costigan's apartment, he could hear a stamping of feet, and a
great shouting of "Ha, ha!" within.

"It's Sir Derby Oaks taking his fencing lesson," said the child, who
piloted Major Pendennis. "He takes it Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."