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The tense eagerness in his voice ht have warned her, were it not

that she was shocked by the bitterness which welled up in her heart

She was alimpse; it alarmed her; she must

convince herself, at all costs, that she had spoken truly

Although the evidence she tendered was of dubious value, she strove to

advance her argureatly, Dr Christobal," she said,

speaking with a calreatly that I am compelled to utter this protest Now, to end a

distasteful controversy, let me tell you what I know to be true When

the ship was stranded, and we all thought our only chance of safety was

to take to the boats, by a fluke, the accident of the moment, I was

left alone in the captain's cabin The sea was breaking in through the

doorway, and it brought an odd relief to my over-burthened mind when I

endeavored to rescue the contents of a locker which, for so them I found some

letters I think you will believe me when I say that I would not

consciously read another person's private correspondence Just then, I

was hardly responsible forof a passage in a letter from Captain Courtenay's

sister which alluded to his affianced wife It is not such a tragic