Minister Throgmorton was still in his library when Virginia returned. He had sent his report to Washington and had just received a reply. He was in the act of opening this dispatch when his daughter entered the room.
“Father, are you aware that Mr. Hawley was not alone when he went to take the snapshot at the fortress last night?” she began abruptly.
The diplomat nodded. “I am informed that he had a woman confederate with him. But, really, my dear girl——”
“You have been correctly informed,” Virginia quickly interrupted. “But did they tell you who the woman was?”
Her father looked at her searchingly. “No, they did not. Do you know?”
“I do; and I think that you ought to know, too, before you fully make up your mind that it will be impossible to use your influence with the government to prevent this case from coming to trial. Surely you wouldn’t want your own daughter to be convicted as accessory before the fact?”
“My own daughter! Why, what do you mean? It can’t be possible that you——” He stopped short, and a look of alarm came to his face.
“Yes; it was I,” the girl announced, her voice as calm as if she had been telling him of a visit to her milliner. “I accompanied Mr. Hawley to the fortress last night, and helped him to get his snapshot. You might as well hear the truth now, for you are bound to learn it later on when I am brought to trial. For,” she added, with determination, “I have fully decided that I must confess my part in the adventure. It would not be honorable for me to remain silent and let Mr. Hawley suffer alone, when I am fully as guilty as he.”
Her father smiled incredulously. “I hate to doubt your word, Virginia, but I am inclined to believe that you are inventing this story in the vain hope of frightening me into helping the rascal.”
“If you doubt me,” said Virginia indignantly, “you have only to make inquiries at the fortress. Ask the commandant, or Captain Reyes; they can tell you that I was there. I told them a story which threw them off the track as to my part in the adventure and caused them to let me go, but when they hear my confession they will have no doubt as to its truth.”