What would she not give for one day of simple tenderness and quiet affection, a true day with a true love! She was now perfectly composed.

She told him the substance of the letter, of David's plight, of the fever, of the intended fight, of Nahoum Pasha, of the peril to David's work.

He continued to interrogate her, while she could have shrieked out the question, "What is in yonder document?
What do you know?
Have you news of his safety ?" Would he never stop his questioning?
It was trying her strength and patience beyond endurance.

At last he drew the document slowly from the despatch-box, and glanced up and down it musingly.

"I fancy he won the battle," he said slowly, "for they have news of him much farther down the river.