has given me almost equal
satisfaction. I should have been grieved beyond expression to have had
to write to him that you doubted him, for my dear friend said, 'If your
commission fails, I shall lose my last pleasant thought of home.'"

"Poor Frank!" Alice murmured, as she turned to go to her uncle's room,
"how could he have ever doubted us?"

"Uncle," she said, as she entered, "I feel quite justified in telling
you Frank's message to me. Why it was sent to me instead of to you I do
not know, except that it seems as if he thought that I might believe him
innocent, while somehow he had an idea that you thought he was guilty."

"Does he say he is innocent, Alice?" Captain Bayley broke in.

"He does, uncle; he declares on his honour and word that he is
innocent."

"Thank God!" the old officer said, dropping into a chair and covering
his face with his hands. For a minute he sat silent, but Alice could see
how deeply he was affected.

"Don't say any more, my dear," he said, in a low, shaken voice. "I have
heard quite enough; it was only Frank's assurance that I have been
wanting all this time. I am content now. Thank God that this burden is
lifted off one's mind. Go in and tell Harry; I should like to be alone
for a few minutes."

"Yes, uncle; and Frank's friend is in the next room, and will tell us
all about him when you are ready to hear it."

Harry was greatly delighted at the news, and after a few minutes Alice
returned with him to the sitting-room. She knocked at her uncle's door,
and called out, "We are here, uncle, when you are ready to come in." In
another minute Captain Bayley entered. He went up to Mr. Adams.

[Illustration: MEETING OF CAPTAIN BAYLEY AND MR. ADAMS.]

"You have brought me the best news I have ever heard, sir; you cannot
tell what a weight you have lifted from my shoulders, and how I feel
indebted to you."

"Yes, uncle, and do you know that Mr. Adams has been travelling nearly
two months to deliver the message, knowing how anxious Frank will be to
hear how it was received. He went to Egypt after us, and finding we had
left has been following us ever since."

"God bless you, sir!" Captain Bayley said, seizing Mr. Adams's hand and
shaking it violently, "you are a friend indeed. Now in the first place,
please tell me the message you have given my niece, for so far I have
only heard that Frank declared that he is innocent; that was quite
enough for me at first. I want to know why I was to