"Which he can't do, sir, begging of his parding and yours. If so be I took an oath, which I don't acknowledge as I did take," said Miss Tabby, cautiously, "he can't free me from it no more 'n no one else. And if so be you could put me on the rack like a heathen and torter me to death, I would die a marture to the faith rayther than break my oath," snivelled Miss Tabby.
"Who the demon wants to put you on the rack, you intolerable old idiot?" exclaimed Lyon Berners, driven past his patience by her obstinacy. "Will you, or will you not, tell me all the particulars of Sybil's rescue?"
"No, sir, I will not, because I cannot without breaking of my oath," persisted Miss Tabby, with a constancy which compelled respect for her honesty, if it inspired contempt for her judgment.
"Well, I hope also that you will never mention the matter to any one else," said Mr. Berners, one little comfort mingling with his disappointment.
"That I never will, sir; but will suffer my tongue to be tored out by the roots first. If I have strength to withstand you, sir, don't you think as I shall have strength to withstand others?"
"I think it quite likely. Well, Miss Tabby, I know you understand me, whether you will divulge anything to me or not, and so I shall soon give you certain instructions as freely as if there were an outspoken confidence between us," said Mr. Berners, rising to leave the room.
"That you may do, sir, with full faith in me," answered Miss Tabby.
And then Mr. Berners left her, and returned to his guests.
Mr. Berners and his guests passed that Christmas evening, not in playing Christmas games, but in transacting important business.
The three gentlemen excused themselves to the two ladies, and leaving them to practice a new duet together on the piano, withdrew to the library, where documents were drawn up giving lawyer Sheridan full powers to manage the estate in the absence of its proprietors.