“Your father is not dead!”
“Sir, you are either mad or mocking me!” exclaimed Ray, springing fiercely to his feet.
“Young man, I am neither.”
“My father was drowned on his way to Van Diemen’s Land.”
“Your father was not.”
“Great heavens, am I sane or mad?” exclaimed Ray, in a loud, thrilling tone. “Man, demon, devil! whoever you are, was not the transport wrecked on her way from England?”
“She was.”
“And all on board lost?”
“No.”
“No?”