"Oh, never you mind, Ma.r.s.e Clem, I can go down and fetch up some hot breakfast, and another cup and sa.s.ser, and then may be the master and missis will take a bit of breakfast here together," put in Margy, as she lifted the tray to take it from the room.
"Be careful to let no word drop concerning our new visitor," said Captain Pendleton, as he cautiously locked the door after the woman.
While she was gone on this errand, Sybil told her friends further details of her life among the mountain robbers; among other matters, she related the story of Gentiliska Dubarry, at which her hearers were much surprised.
"I think it is easy to see through this matter," said Lyon Berners, after a pause; "this robber chief--this Captain Inconnu--this Satan of the band must be, or rather must have been the husband of Rosa Blondelle, and most probably her a.s.sa.s.sin. The motive for all his crimes seems clear enough. He could never have been a gentleman. He must always have been an adventurer--a criminal adventurer. He married the beautiful young Scotch widow for her money, and having spent it all, and discovered another heiress in this poor vagrant girl, he put Rosa out of the way, that he might be free to marry another fortune.
"No devil is so bad, however, but that there is a speck of good about him somewhere; and this adventurer, gambler, smuggler, robber, murderer was unwilling that an innocent woman should suffer for his crime; therefore he had you abducted to prevent you from falling into the hands of the law."
"I do not know," said Sybil; "but I think that in having me carried off, he yielded to the threats or persuasions of Gentiliska, who certainly seemed to know enough of the matter to give her great power over him.
Indeed she hinted as much to me. And she certainly knew of his presence at my mask ball."
"The daring impudence, the reckless effrontery of that man!" exclaimed Captain Pendleton, in astonishment and disgust.
"You said, dear Sybil, that he came in the character of Death?" inquired Mr. Berners.
"Yes," replied his wife, with a shudder.
"Ah, then I do not wonder at that poor woman"s great--instinctive horror--of that mask! I remember now that, every time he approached her, she shivered as with an ague fit. And yet she could not have suspected his ident.i.ty," said Mr. Berners.
Next Sybil spoke of the discovery of the Pendleton plate and jewels in the possession of the robbers.
"I am glad of that, at all events, Clement, since it gives you a sure clue to the recovery of your stolen goods," suggested Mr. Berners.
"A clue that I shall not now follow, as to do so might seriously compromise the safety of Mrs. Berners. Our first care must be for her,"
answered Captain Pendleton.
"Always thoughtful, always magnanimous, dear friend," warmly exclaimed Lyon Berners, while Sybil eloquently looked her grat.i.tude.
At that moment there was heard a low tap at the door, and a low voice saying:
"It"s only me, Ma.r.s.e Clem, with the breakfast things."
The captain stepped to the door, unlocked it, and admitted Margy with the breakfast tray, and then carefully locked it again.
As the woman drew nearer to Sybil, she began to stare in astonishment at the India shawl that lady wore around her shoulders.
"You know it, do you, Margy? Well, yes, you are right. It is the celebrated Pendleton shawl that the captain"s great-grandfather brought away from the palace of the Rajah, at the siege of some unp.r.o.nounceable place in Hindostan," smiled Sybil.
"That"s it," laughed her host. "My great-grandfather, a captain in the British army, _stole_ it from the Rajah, and Mr. Inconnu, a captain of banditti, took it from us!"
But Margy was much too dignified to relish such jokes at the expense of her master"s family, even from her master"s lips. She put the tray upon the stand and arranged the breakfast, all in stately silence.
Captain Pendleton, with old-fashioned hospitality, pressed his guests to their repast; and so Lyon Berners being propped up with pillows, and Sybil sitting in the easy-chair, with the stand placed between them, ate their breakfast together; not forgetting to feed little Nelly, who was certainly the most famished of the party.
When the breakfast was over, Margy went out with the tray, followed by Joe.
Mr. and Mrs. Berners being left alone with their host, the captain began to devise means first for her temporary concealment in the house, and afterwards for her successful removal to a seaport.
"I confess, Mrs. Berners," began the captain, "that when I saw you enter this room I was as much alarmed for your safety as astonished at your appearance. But since your servant has told me, and you have confirmed his story, that no one recognized you, either on the road or in the house, until you reached this room, my anxieties are allayed. The prevalent belief that you perished in the explosion at the Haunted Chapel has caused all pursuit of you to be abandoned for the present.
And so long as we can keep you out of the sight of others than the few who have already seen you, you will be perfectly secure."
"Yes; but we must not trust to this security," interrupted Mr. Berners; "we must rather avail ourselves of this lull in the excitement, this cessation of all pursuit, to get as fast and far away from this place as possible.
"Oh, yes! yes! dear Lyon!" eagerly exclaimed Sybil, "let us get as fast and as far away from this place as we can. Let us get to Europe, or anywhere where we can have rest and peace. Oh! Heaven only knows how I long for rest and peace!"
"You are both right. I shall not oppose your going; but shall rather speed your departure, just as soon as Berners shall be able to travel.
But in the meantime we must contrive some place of safe concealment for you in the house," said the captain, as he arose and opened an inner door leading to a small adjoining chamber. "Could you live in there for a few days, Mrs. Berners?" he inquired, in some uneasiness.
"Live in there! Why, that is a palace chamber compared to what I have been lately accustomed to!" exclaimed Sybil, gratefully.
"Well, then it is all right. That room is unoccupied and has no outlet except through this. That shall be your private withdrawing room when the doctor, or any one else who is not in our secret, happens to come into this room. At all other times you may safely take the freedom of both chambers," said the captain cheerfully.
"A thousand thanks in _words_; for, ah! in all _else_ I am bankrupt, and can never repay your goodness, unless Heaven should show me some singular favor to enable me to do it," said Sybil, fervently.
And Lyon Berners joined warmly in her expressions of grat.i.tude.
"If you, either of you, knew how much gratification it gives me to serve you, you would not think it necessary to say a single word more on the subject!" exclaimed Clement Pendleton, flushing.
"And now tell me about my dear, bonny Beatrix. Surely _she_ may see me!
I hope she is quite well," said Sybil.
"Trix is always well. She is now at Staunton. She is one of your most devoted friends, Mrs. Berners, and she will regret not to have been home to receive you. But as for myself, great as my faith is in my sister, I hardly know whether I am glad or sorry for her absence on this occasion.
Certainly the fewer witnesses there are to your presence here, the better. Beatrix would die before she would knowingly betray you; but she might do it unconsciously, in which case she would never forgive herself," gravely replied Captain Pendleton.
"Well, I am sorry not to see her. But at any rate, after I have gone I wish you to send her this shawl, with my love, by some safe messenger,"
Sybil requested, smiling sadly.
"I will be sure to do so. She will be glad to get the old heirloom, which she has been bewailing ever since it was lost; and she will also be well pleased to owe its rest.i.tution to you," replied the Captain; and then, surmising that his guests might like to be left alone for an hour or two, he arose and retired from the room, cautioning Sybil to turn the key to prevent the intrusion of any one who was not to be let into the dangerous secret of her presence in the house.
Three precious hours of each other"s exclusive company the young people enjoyed, and then Captain Pendleton tapped at the door to announce the approach of the village doctor. Sybil unlocked the door, and hastily retreated into her withdrawing room, where she remained during the doctor"s visit.
As soon as the physician departed, Aunt Margy came in with fresh water, clean towels, and everything else that was necessary to make the inner chamber comfortable and pleasant for the occupation of Mrs. Berners.
When the early dinner was ready, Sybil took hers with her husband at his bed-side.
And from that time, as long as they remained at Captain Pendleton"s house, they ate their meals together.
Twelve tranquil days they pa.s.sed at Pendleton Park. Their secret was well kept, at least during their stay at the house.
On the thirteenth day, Mr. Berners being sufficiently recovered to bear the journey, the fugitive pair prepared for their new flight.
Upon this occasion their disguise was admirably well arranged. They were got up as mulattoes. Their faces, necks, and hands were carefully colored with fine brown umber; Sybil"s black tresses were cut short and crimped; Lyon"s auburn hair and beard were also crimped, and dyed black; Sybil was dressed in a suit of Margy"s Sunday clothes, and Lyon in a holiday suit of Joe"s.
Serious as the circ.u.mstances were, the lady and gentleman could not forbear laughing as they looked into each other"s faces.
"When we introduced mask b.a.l.l.s into this quiet country place, we had no idea how long the masquerading would last, so far as we were concerned, had we, dear?" inquired Lyon Berners.