It was now December and the Senate had been in session for over a week.

Jefferson had not forgotten his promise, and one day, about two weeks after Mr.Bagley's spectacular dismissal from the Ryder residence, he had brought Shirley the two letters.

She did not ask him how he got them, if he forced the drawer or procured the key.
It sufficed for her that the precious letters--the absolute proof of her father's innocence--were at last in her possession.

She at once sent them off by registered mail to Stott, who immediately acknowledged receipt and at the same time announced his departure for Washington that night.

He promised to keep her constantly informed of what he was doing and how her father's case was going.
It could, he thought, be only a matter of a few days now before the result of the proceedings would be known.
The approach of the crisis made Shirley exceedingly nervous, and it was only by the exercise of the greatest self-control that she did not betray the terrible anxiety she felt.