“And so you come to see me. Oh, that is very good in you.”
“I come also to serve you. I come as the messenger of two friends, who wish for the present to remain unknown, but who feel such a personal interest in your acquittal that they send you this sum of money, and beg that you will accept it as a loan, to be devoted to the purpose of feeing counsel for your defence,” said Alma, placing the roll of bank-notes in her hand.
“But this is very strange,” remarked Eudora, hesitating to retain the money.
“And is not your presence in this place very strange? And is not everything that has happened to you for the last two weeks equally strange?”
“Oh, yes, yes; so strange that it sometimes seems to me to be unreal; as though I were dead and sleeping in my grave, and dreaming this dreadful dream,” replied Eudora, with a shudder.
“Then take one incident of the dream with another.”
“But this money? I may never be able to repay it.”
“Then repayment will never be demanded. Those who have sent you the funds direct me to say that they have a personal and strictly selfish interest in your acquittal as well as in the apprehension of the real criminal.”
“Thank Heaven that there are some, at least, who believe me free from this great sin!”
“There are many; but as the mere belief in your innocence would do you but little good with judge or jury, it is necessary that they assist you in every practical way.”