"Oh, my good Lord, Marse Clement, don't I understand it? My blood runs cold and hot by turns every time I look at her and think of it," muttered the woman, with a dismayed look.
"I am glad you feel and appreciate this peril. It is said that no secret is safe that is known to three persons. This secret is known to five: Mr. and Mrs. Berners, Joe, you, and myself! I think I can rely on the secresy of all," said Captain Pendleton, with a meaning look.
"You can rely on mine, Marse Clement! I'd suffer my tongue to be tored out by the roots afore ever I'd breathe a word about her being here," said the woman.
"Quite right! Now we must see about concealing her for a few days, until we can ship her off to some foreign country."
"To be sure, marster; but are you certain that no one down stairs saw her when she came in?"
"Quite certain," answered the captain.
Meanwhile Sybil sat down on the chair at the side of Lyon's bed, and with her hand clasped in his, began to tell the story of her abduction and captivity among the robbers.
Lyon Berners, seeing his host now at leisure, beckoned him to approach and hear the strange story.
Sybil told it briefly to her wondering audience.
"And if they had not carried me off, I should not now be at liberty," she concluded.