“Well?” he said breathlessly.
“Hugh and I have both had a message from Daddy, telling us that the proof that would clear him is in this room.”
“A message—a message from your father?” His agitation was increasing, but he did his utmost to conquer it.
“Yes,” Helen replied gravely.
“He left you—he left you letters?” Pryde’s voice was thick with terror. Few as his words were, he spoke them with difficulty.
“No!” Helen shook her head.
“Then how”—his voice trembled and so did his hands—“how did the message come?”
“It only came lately—from the other side.”
“From the other side?” Stephen asked blankly.
Helen nodded. For a moment he looked at her in utter perplexity, and then a light broke faintly.