Major Pendennis knew the letter, too.

He had put it into the post himself in Chatteris the day before.
He told little Laura to go away, which the child did, having a thorough dislike to him; and as the door closed on her, he took Mrs.Pendennis's hand, and giving her a look full of meaning, pointed to the letter under the newspaper which Pen was pretending to read.

"Will you come into the drawing-room ?" he said.

"I want to speak to you." And she followed him, wondering, into the hall.
"What is it ?" she said nervously.
"The affair is at an end," Major Pendennis said.

"He has a letter there giving him his dismissal.