"What is it?" she demanded, with a sharp intake of breath.
For reply Ruxton withdrew a newspaper folded, and held it out to her, pointing at the stop press paragraph on the outside fold.
"Read it," he said urgently.
She stood up and moved to the window for better light He watched her while she read.
"Can it be——?" he demanded, leaving his sentence unfinished.
Vita looked up at last. Her eyes were wide. A stunned look was in them. Her parched lips moved.
"Do you think it's father?" she asked. "Do you think he has got away?" Then, with a sudden appealing gesture: "Oh, say you do."